SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 255 



blade, and drawing the whole together by means of cottony threads, 

 secured at each perforation by a knot so ingeniously executed as to 

 appear the work of reason.* Between the grasses thus secured it 

 places the body of the nest, which is composed of vegetable fibres 

 lined with a kind of flocculent down, collected from various plants." 

 The eggs are four or five, and of a bluish flesh-colour. " When dis- 

 turbed it takes long flights, chirping all the way with a remarkably 

 loud and shrill note ; and when in motion it erects the tail and 

 spreads it in a circle, which appears very beautiful." The male 

 only differs from the female in having the tail somewhat more elon- 

 gated. 



Ash-colored Harrier, Circus cineraceus — Busard IMontagu, Fr. — 

 Falco rossiccia. It. — Halb Weyhe, G. Splendid representations, na- 

 tural size, of the male and female. This bird is easily distinguished 

 from the Hen Harrier by the superior length of its wings. Tole- 

 rably abundant throughout Europe, including Britain, but especi- 

 ally the southern districts. Feeds on small mammalia. Snakes, 

 Frogs, Lizards, &c. Nidificates on the ground, among any kind of 

 shelter suited to the purpose. Its flight is peculiarly buoyant and 

 graceful. The female wants the ash colour of the other sex, and 

 the young birds are of a more uniform plumage than adults. It is 

 well known that the discovery of this bird as a distinct species is due 

 to the zeal of our countryman, the late Colonel JMontagu. 



Hedge Alp, Pyrrhula vulgaris — Bouvreuil commun, Fr. — Roth- 

 brustiger Gimpel, G. Mr. Gould figures the male and female, na- 

 tural size. We really must, in this instance, withhold all com- 

 mendation from the plate lying open before us. The Hedge Alp, 

 or Bull Finch, is too familiar to need any description. 



Stone Thicknee, (Edicncmus crepitans — CEdicneme criard, Fr. — 

 Gran Piviere, //. — Graue Regenpfeifer, G. Of five or six known 

 species of Q^dicnemus, this is the only one that inhabits Europe. It 

 arrives in Britain in spring, frequenting stony moors ; it is found in 

 similar localities in the south and east of Europe, and the adjacent 

 portions of Asia and Africa. IMakes no nest, but lays two eggs 

 amongst loose stones ; the young run as soon as they are hatched. 

 Feeds on Slugs, Worms, IMicc, reptiles, &c. The Thicknee runs 

 very swiftly. The sexes are similar, and the young birds soon as- 

 sume the adult plumage. The figure, of an adult, natural size, is 

 excellent. 



Egyptian Neophron, Neophron percnoplerus — Cathartc alinioche, 



• But being ill fact the work of Coital) uulirciicss,—KD. 



