268 SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOIiOGY. 



known Reed Bunting, but the beak, being considerably stronger, 

 points it out as an aberrant member of the genus. Inhabits the 

 marshes of Tuscany, and its habits are said to be similar to those of 

 E. schceniculus ; nidification unknown. The sexual and other 

 changes of plumage are also the same as in the abo%'e-named 

 species. 



White-headed Undine, Undina leucocephala, Gould — Canard 

 couronne, Fr. — Anatra d'iverno. It. — Weisskopfige Ente, G. We 

 do not find the freedom of Nature in the plate before us, represent- 

 ing an adult male, size of life. We perfectly agree with Mr. 

 Gould as to the propriety of instituting a new genus for the recep- 

 tion of this singular species, which could not even be included in 

 Hydrohates, Tern. The White-headed Undine Is abundant in, and 

 almost confined to, the eastern countries of Europe, where it inha- 

 bits salt waters, and arms of the sea. So entirely aquatic are the 

 habits of this species — whence the generic name, both Latin and 

 English — that the nest is so constructed as to float on the water ; 

 and, although the facts are not ascertained by actual observation, 

 the structure of the bird, as our author very properly observes, 

 leaves no doubt but it is an expert diver, and that it swims with 

 the body almost entirely submersed. Feeds on molluscs and insects. 

 The female only difiers from the male in having the general hue of 

 the plumage of a duller tint. 



Laughing Xeme, Xemn ridibundus — Mouette rieuse, Fr. — Gabbi- 

 ano moretta, It. — Lach Meve, G. It is a native of Holland, where 

 it is always abundant, but is a bird of passage in France and Ger- 

 many ; also common in Britain. Frequents marshy islands in the 

 neighbourhood of the sea coast and similar localities. Subsists on 

 insects, moUusca, small fishes, &c., and resembles the Gulls in its 

 habits. The nest is placed on the ground, on flat lands, and often 

 at a considerable distance from the sea. The sexes are similar, and 

 the winter plumage resembles that of summer, but young birds 

 only attain the adult attire after the moult of the second autumn. 

 The plate represents an adult and a young bird, natural size, and 

 few of JNIr. Gould's figures surpass these before us in truth and 

 beauty. 



On the next plate are given figures of the Coal Tit, Parus afer — 

 Mesange charbonniere, Fr. — Cinciallegra minore, It. — Tanne 

 Meise, G. ; and IMarsh Tit, rams palustris — ]\Iesange nonnette, 

 Fr. — Cinciallegra cinerea, //. — Sumpf Meise, G. The latter much 

 the best. These two species are widely distributed over Europe, 

 and are abundant in Britain. The Coal Tit is distinguished by the 



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