SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
141 
lays five white eggs. The colour of this handsome bird is pure white. We beg 
to suggest the propriety of removing this bird from the genus Ardea. It might 
stand as Garzetta pusilla. 
Haw Grosbeak, Coccothraustes cratccgus , Blyth, —Grosbec ordinaire, Fr .—« 
Frosone commune, It. —Kirsch Kernbeisser, G. —The male and female are repre¬ 
sented the size of life. Both of them are too thick and heavy, but the head and 
bill of the female, in a difficult attitude, is lovely, and the colouring is good. 
Occurs almost throughout Europe, and has lately been discovered to breed in the 
South of England. It is now proved to be indigenous, and we agree with our 
author in thinking that its numbers must have increased considerably of late 
years in England. Mr. Blyth informs us he has a live female in his possession, 
and that he has seen several others in his neighbourhood. Feeds on slugs, berries, 
seeds, and the kernels of stone fruits, which it cracks with ease. It breeds in 
May and June, in Fir and other trees of various altitudes. The nest is shallow 
and loose, consisting of sticks interspersed with white Lichens, and is lined with 
roots. It is stated to be even less than that of Fyrrhula vulgaris . Eggs from 
four to six, pale greenish-white, spotted and streaked with grey and brown. The 
throat, cheeks, and head of the young are of a dull yellowish colour, under parts 
white, the flanks marked with brown streaks, and the upper parts spotted with 
dirty yellow. The female is of a more dingy hue than the male. 
Two adult figures of the Marsh Hoopoe, Upupa epops , Linn., —Huppe com¬ 
mune, Fr. —Upupa rubbola, It. —Gebanderter Wiedehopf, G. —The female, 
represented in the act of coming out of the hole of a tree, is admirable, but both 
figures would give an idea of much larger birds than is actually the case. Extends 
over the whole of Europe and Africa, and specimens have been received from 
India and China. Bare and irregular visitor to Britain, where, however, it has 
been known to breed occasionally. ~Builds in holes of trees, crevices in rocks, 
fissures in walls, holes in the ground, or dunghills. Eggs five, light grey, clouded 
with dark grey. Sexes and young similar. Feeds on insects, grubs, &c. 
Tawny Hooter, Aluco stridula ,—Chouette hulotte, Fr. —Aluceo maggiore, 
It .—Brand Kaute, G. —An excellent figure, natural size. Inhabits the more 
extensive forests of the Continent, but is rare in Holland: extremely common in 
England. Builds in the holes of trees, preferring those which are Ivy-clad: 
sometimes takes possession of the deserted nest of a Crow, or other large bird, 
in which it lays its eggs, which are rather large, elliptical, and pure white. 
Feeds on Mice, Shrews, Moles, &c. Syrnium is apt to be confounded with 
Surnia , and, therefore, Aluco is preferable. 
Common Pintail, Fafila epilobium ,—Dafile ordinaire, Fr. —Longuacoda com¬ 
mune, It. —Gemeiner Spiessen, G.—In our opinion, these figures, representing a 
male and female, natural size, are decidedly the best in the Part; the feathering 
