142 
SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
is beautifully delicate. Inhabits Europe, North-Africa, Asia, and the temperate 
districts of North-America. Is a periodical visitant with us, and great numbers 
are annually caught in the various decoys, and send to the London markets. 
Nidificates in extensive beds of Reeds, concealing its nest in the thick herbage 
beside the water. Eggs eight, and greenish-blue. The sexes offer much the 
same difference of plumage as the Teal. Feeds on aquatic plants, insects, 
Mollusca, &c., and is said to be delicate eating. It does not stay to breed in 
Britain. 
Snowy Longspur, Plectropkanes nivalis , Mey., —Plectrophane de-neige, Fr .— 
Plectrofano nivolo, It.' —Schnee Plectrophe, G.—-Intended to be the size of life, 
but both the figures are far too thick and heavy. The young and immature 
birds were described, by the older writers, as the Tawny Bunting and Mountain 
Bunting; but the observations of Selby and others have long since satisfactorily 
dispersed the mist in which this species was once enveloped. Inhabits Europe 
and America. Winter visitant with us, resorting to barren upland tracts. 
Builds in the niches of rocks, or among large stones on the sea-shore; the nest 
consists of dried Grass, lined with hair or feathers. Eggs six or seven, pale 
flesh-colour, with small dots, and at the larger end blotches of reddish-brown. 
Food: the seeds of Alpine plants, insects, and their larvae. 
Kentish Plover, Charadrius Cantianus , Lath., —Pluvier de-rivage, Fr. —» 
Weisstirniger Regenpfeifer, G.—Pretty figures, but they have too starved an 
appearance. The best plate we have seen of this species is in Mudie’s Fea¬ 
thered Tribes. Common on the Southern coasts of England, and likewise on 
those of France and Holland. Subsists on marine insects and Worms, which it 
finds among the loose stones. Lays its five yellow eggs, marked with irregular 
blotches of dark brown, on the naked sand, or among the shingles on the beach. 
The female is known by the absence of the black band on the forehead. 
An adult individual, natural size, of the Siberian Jay, Garrulus infaustus , 
Temm., —Geai imitateur, Fr. —This plate could scarcely be surpassed; it is 
perfectly alive, and is drawn and coloured in the best style. Inhabits the North 
of Europe, its soft and compact plumage being well fitted to enable it to brave 
the rigours of the severest Winters. It is found in woods, and feeds on various 
■wild berries, insects, larvie, Worms, &c. Builds, in Fir trees, a nest consisting 
of sticks and Grass, and lays five eggs. Both sexes are alike. This bird 
should not remain in the genus Garrulus. 
Adults, in the Summer and Winter garb, of the Redshank Sandpiper, Totanus 
calidris , Bechst., —Chevalier gambetta, Fr. —Totana gambette, It. —Rothfussiger 
Wasserlaiifer, G.—We much prefer the right-hand figure to the other. Inhabits 
Europe, and is indigenous in Britain, frequenting the sea- coast or the borders of 
rivers and marshy tracts, where it constructs a frail nest in a tuft of herbage, and 
