BRITISH BIRDS. 103 



coverts are black, very slightly edged and tipped 

 with white. The legs, which are strong, are red- 

 dish; claws pale brown.* This beautiful bird is a 

 rare visitant in this country. t It is found in 

 various parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in 

 most places is migratory. It seems to prefer the 

 warmer climates. It is said to be fond of locusts, 

 and frequents the places where those destructive 

 insects abound, on which account it is held sacred 

 by the inhabitants. 



* The plumage of the yearlings, according to Temminck, shows 

 none of the colours of the old birds, the upper parts being of a 

 uniform isabelle brown, the wings and tail brown, throat and middle 

 of the belly white; the rest of the under parts greyish brown, and 

 no appearance of crest on the head. 



t A pair of them were shot in the summer of 1817, in a tanyard, 

 in Newcastle; and another male and a young bird were shot out of a 

 flock, at North Sunderland, in the month of July, 1817. We were 

 favoured by the Hon. Mr. Liddell, with the specimen from which the 

 foregoing figure was drawn. 



