239 •- 



SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Gould's "Birds of Europe." 



Parts Seventh and Eighth. 



Part VII. — On opening the seventh part of this work, we find 

 the same merits and the same defects that we had occasion to notice 

 in our last number ; the chief of the latter being the too great tame- 

 ness of most of the figures, but especially those of the Falconidss and 

 FringilUdse, The accuracy of the delineation and colouring, is, 

 however, in almost every case, such as to render the species recogni- 

 sable by the ornithologist at a single glance ; and each plate is, as a 

 whole, so beautiful, as to rivet the eyes of even the most ordinary 

 observer. The first plate represents 



The Rock Gossak — Astur palumharius — Autour de rocher, Fr. — 

 Sparviere da Colombi, It. — Hunerhabicht, G. The adult female in 

 mature plumage, and the young bird, about three-fourths of the 

 natural size, are given ; of these, both characteristic, we prefer the 

 latter, as having the more falconine expression of the two. " It may 

 be regarded," says Mr. Gould, " as the most noble and typical 

 species of its genus — a genus separated from the Falcons by the 

 absence of the true dentation of the mandibles, and by possessing a 

 short and more rounded form of wings, together with a slender and 

 less robust body." It is widely distributed, in both the old and new 

 worlds, and abounds in all the wooded parts of Central Europe, but 

 is very rare in Britain. In manners it bears considerable resem- 

 blance to the Sparrow Hawk ; in taking its prey, however, it does not 

 stoop like a Falcon, but glides after its victim in a line with ex- 

 treme rapidity. The sexes difier considerably in size, and the 

 markings on the breast are more distinct in the male than in 

 the female. The young have the breast brown, and the markings 

 are not in the same direction as in adults. Meyer informs us that 

 this bird feeds on young birds of its own species — a circumstance, 

 we think, that wants verification. Mr. Gould tells us nothing 

 about its nidification or food ; the latter consists of Squirrels, Rab- 

 bits, Mice, Moles, young poultry. Pigeons, and other small animals. 

 It is said to make its nest on lofty trees, and to lay from two to 

 four bluish eggs, streaked and spotted with brown. 



The Siskin Goldwing — Carduelis spinus — Tarin vert, Fr. — Er- 

 lenzeisig, G. Pretty figures, but wanting in the lively expression 



