SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 257 



of the above-named trees, or even in Furze. We have seen the 

 nest in Derbyshire, and once, we believe — but are not certain — in 

 Yorkshire. It consists of grass and moss intermingled with the 

 down of the Willow-catkins ; the eggs, four or five, are very small, 

 and pale bluish-green, spotted with orange. The young of both 

 sexes, the adult female, and the adult male in winter, want those 

 beautiful red tints which render the full-grown male, in summer 

 plumage, one of the most beautiful of the native Fringillidce. 

 These tints soon disappear, never to return, in confinement ; " a cir- 

 cumstance," observes Mr. Gould, with great justice, "which should 

 render us cautious in drawing any conclusions respecting the changes 

 of plumage of birds from those that are kept in confinement." 



iNlealy Linnet, Linaria canescejis, Gould. The London bird- 

 catchers have no doubt as to the distinctness of this species and the 

 preceding. They assert that it differs from the Redpoll Linnet in 

 habits and haunts, and that in some winters it is extremely scarce, 

 while in others hundi'eds are seen. " Whether this species is truly 

 a native of Europe, or whether those which occur in our island are 

 arrivals from the northern portions of the American continent, is a 

 matter of doubt ; true it is, that the specimens brought home by 

 Dr. Richardson, which furnished the descriptions in the Fauna Bo- 

 reali-Aviericana, are strictly identical with the bird before us." We 

 believe it is now quite certain that the Mealy Redpoll is a distinct 

 species. The figure, natural size, of an adult taken in the month of 

 October, is beautifully executed. 



The Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus — Busard St. Martin, Fr. 

 — Falco albanella. It. The plate contains remarkably fine repre- 

 sentations, natural size, of the male and female. This bird has 

 a wide range over Europe, India, and Africa, but the ill-directed 

 zeal of our game-keepers has rendered it a veiy rare bird in Britain. 

 It is light and buoyant on the wing, hovering at no great distance 

 from the ground, and making but little noise in flight. Feeds on 

 Mice, Leverets, Snakes, Lizards, Froys, and young birds, darting on 

 its prey with the most unerring precision. Frequents flat moor- 

 lands, furze commons, and the vicinity of lakes and morasses, where 

 it breeds. The nest is built on the ground, amongst any kind of 

 herbage, and the eggs are of a dull unspotted white. The adult 

 female, and the young of both sexes, are entirely destitute of the 

 delicate grey hue of the adult male. 



IVIarsh Bunting, Evtheriza palustris, Savi. The male and fe- 

 male are figured, of the size of life : the former is very well exe- 

 cuted. In plumage this bird bears a close resemblance to our well- 



