12 
SKETCHES OE EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
they remain fixed, stand very erect, and utter two or three sharp whistling notes 
as they mount to fly.” 44 Unlike most of their tribe,” observes the same author, 
“ these birds appear to prefer running about among the Grass, feeding on Beetles 
and other winged insects. There were three or four in company ; they seemed 
extremely watchful, silent, and shy, so that it was always with extreme 
difficulty I could approach them.The male and female are nearly alike.” 
Hedge Dunnock, Accentor modularise —Accenteur mouchet, Fr. —A male and 
female, natural size. They are too finely executed to be entirely characteristic, 
and the bills are not exactly those of the Hedge DunnoeL But we have, on the 
whole, no reason to complain of the plate. It is extensively known as the 
“ Hedge Sparrow.” Inhabits nearly the whole of Central Europe, and is so 
familiar to our readers as not to require a detailed description. 
Wood Grous, Tetrao urogallas ,—Tetras auerhan, Fr. —Auer Waldhuhn, G. 
—A male and female, two-thirds of the natural size. The plate is good, but it 
might have pleased us better had we not previously seen some still finer repre¬ 
sentations of the species. The Wood Grous, exclusive of its beauty, has peculiar 
interest in the estimation of the British ornithologist—not, however, either on 
account of its abundance or scarcity, but because, having once been common in 
many parts of this country, not a single specimen has now been met with for up¬ 
wards'of Half a century. The diminution of their numbers was of course gradual. 
Our epicures continue to feast on this bird as formerly; but the supply is now 
furnished by Scandinavia, where, as well as in the Pine-forests of other moun¬ 
tainous portions of Europe, it abounds. This bird is more arboreal than the 
typical Grous, and its feet are furnished with horny papillae, which enable them 
to perch with ease on smooth surfaces. It is polygamous. 44 As the breeding- 
season approaches, the male becomes greatly excited, and, perched on some large 
branch, in a dense part of the forest, invites his mate by often-repeated and loud 
calls, which very frequently lead to his own destruction, by apprising the sports¬ 
man of the immediate locality in which he is seated: hence in the months of 
April and May the London markets are frequently stocked with fine males in 
their highest state of plumage, and with a favourable wind for the Lobster-boats, 
which are the general means of conveyance, arrive in good order.The 
female rears her young in independent seclusion : the nest is placed amidst 
breakers and dense underwood; the eggs are from eight to sixteen in number, of 
a yellowish white spotted with darker yellow.” Feeds on Alpine berries, tops of 
Fir, Snails, &c. The male is considerably larger than the female, and his 
plumage consists of rich brown and glossy green variously disposed, while the 
other sex is of a lighter and more sober colour. The male, in full plumage, is a 
fine subject for the ornithological painter. 
Buff-breasted Tringa, Tring a rufescens ,—Tringa roussatre, Fr. —A pair of 
