272 SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



web about half the length from tip. Tail graduated ; each feather 

 tipped with white. Length 12 — 14 inches. Sexual diversity, none. 



Plate III. — The Squacco Heron, — Ardea comata ( — ralloides, 

 Scopoli, — castanea, Gmelin), — Heron crabier, Fr., — Sgarza cui- 

 fetto, IL, — Rallen Reiher, G. An adult male, figured with extra- 

 ordinary truth and delicacy. From the long, slender, and hair-like 

 plumes which decorate the vertex of this rare visitant of the British 

 islands, the specific designation, comata, is rendered peculiarly ap- 

 plicable. Its habits resemble those of its congeners. Of its nidifi- 

 cation, little is, at present, known. 



Plate IV. exhibits three exquisitely drawn figures, one illustra- 

 tive of a newly distinguished species, of British Regulus. The Jirst 

 of these is the Fire-Crested Wren, — R. ignicapillus, — ^long known 

 and recognized, in south Europe, as a distinct species ; but over- 

 looked in Britain, or confounded with its paler-crested congener. 

 We have, ourselves, frequently remarked the difference of colour in 

 the vertex of these two birds ; but were induced to consider it as 

 merely a sexual diversity. The honour of the discovery is due to 

 the Rev. L. Jenyns. Our little stranger, closely resembling the 

 common species, in size, habits, food, and nidification, is principally 

 distinguished by i\ie Jiery colour of the crest, a more decidedly golden 

 lustre of the sides of the neck and top of the back, and the alternate 

 stripes of white and black, which occupy the sides of the face both 

 above and below the eye. It is the Roitelet triple-bandeau (Sylvia 

 ignicapillaj, of Temminck ; — Varietat der goldhahnchens, of the 

 Germans ; but not noticed in the last edition of Selby's Illustrations. 

 Figure Second. Golden-crested Wren, — Regulus auricapillus, — vul- 

 garis, of Cuvier, — Sylvia — , Motacilla regulus, of older writers, — le 

 Roitelet ordinaire, Fr., — Regolo, It,, — Gekrbnter Sanger, G. A 

 male and female specimen. 



Plate V. — the Pine Grosbeak, — Corythus enucleator (Pyrrhula, 

 and Loxia enucleator, of Temminck and of Linnaus), — Bouvreuil 

 dur-bec, Fr., — Ciufolotto snocciolatore. It., — Haaken Kernbeisser, 

 G. This beautiful bird, formerly arranged among the bull-finches, 

 exhibits, in Cuvier's opinion, characters sufficiently decided to jus- 

 tify the institution of a new genus. Corythus forms the connecting 

 link between Pyrrhula and Loxia ; resembling the former in its 

 haunts, habits, and style of colouring ; — the latter, in the construc- 

 tion of its beak. The Generic characters are : Beak short, hard, 

 thick ; everywhere rounded, and slightly hooked at the point. 

 Nostrils basal, linear, rounded, and covered with thickly-set, hair- 

 like feathers. Tarsi short. Toes entirely divided. Wings longer 



