I'M SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



genus, it closely resei^bles the Thrushes in its structure and habits ; 

 and, consequently, belongs to the modern Family of the Merulidce. 



Plate XVII. — Still more admirably executed are the two figures 

 representing, in its summer- and winter-plumage, the Little Grebe 

 or Dab- chick, — Podiceps minor j — Grebe Castagneux, Fr., — Colimbo 

 minore o JufFetto rosso, //., — Kleiner Steissfuss, G. Five Euro- 

 pean and British species compose the genus PodicepSj as at present 

 constituted. The subject before us is, as the specific designation 

 indicates, the smallest ; but size obviously afibrds a very crazy 

 foundation whereon to establish a specific character. It would re- 

 quire more time and reflection than we can, at present, bestow on 

 the subject, to select, or fabricate, an accurately characteristic term. 

 The epithet Jluviatilis J adopted by the Derbyshire reformer, is, in 

 our opinion, little less vague and objectionable than minor. Mela- 

 nogenius would constitute a trivial term sufficiently precise and ex- 

 pressive ; but the black chin, unfortunately, — a distinguishing cha- 

 racter only of the species when dressed in its summer plumage, — is 

 inconstant, and therefore unavailable. 



Plate XVIII. — A correct and striking representation of the 

 Pied Wagtail, — Motacilla alba, — la Lavandiere, BufFon, — Berge- 

 ronette grise, Temminck, — Gutrettola cenerea. It., — Weisse Bach- 

 stelze, G., — it has never yet been our lot to meet with. The at- 

 tempts of Bewick, Werner, and Selby also, if we recollect right, to 

 delineate this sprightly and most elegant bird, are perfect failures ; 

 and even in the figures of ]Mr. Gould, we are woefully disappointed. 

 These figures represent the bird in its summer- and winter-plumage. 

 In the former state, a large black patch covers the whole throat : in 

 the latter, a slender gorget only of that colour is left. Why a 

 really black and white bird should be designated white in Latin and 

 German, and grey in French and Italian, it would wellnigh puzzle 

 a special pleader satisfactorily to explain. Surely the specific terra, 

 melanoleuca, or nigralba, would more correctly designate the Fied 

 Wagtail than the alba or the maculosa, hitherto employed. 



Plate XIX. — A most masterly delineation of the Herring Gull, 

 '—Larus argentatiis, — Goeland a Manteau bleu, Fr., — Gabiano 

 reale. It., — Weissgraue Meve, G., — both in the young and the adult 

 state. This bird is the Silvery Gull, of Pennant, — Larus viarinus, 

 Latham, — in immature age, le Goeland a Manteau gris et blanc^ of 

 Buffon, — in its summer-plumage, the Larus glaucus, of Benicken, 

 and Goeland a manteau gris ou cendre, of the more eloquent than 

 accurate French Naturalist. It breeds along the rocky parts of the 

 British coast. 



Plate XX. — Two admirably drawn and highly-finished figures 



