SKETCHES OP EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 267 



length of wing, and whiteness of claw ? This is a point too knotty 

 for us to decide upon. We leave it, contented with having thrown 

 out the mere hint, to be settled by the zealous ornithological re- 

 former of Derby, and the acute, but too bitterly " sarcastic, Senex/* 



Plate II. — The Red-footed Falcon, — Falco riijipes (Ingrian 

 Falcon, and Orange-legged Hobby, of Latham, — Falco vespertinus, 

 of Gmelin), — le Faucon a pieds rouges, Fr., — (Variete singuli^re 

 du Hobereau, — singular variety of Hobby, of BufFon), — Falco bar- 

 letta piombina, It., — Rothfussiger Falk, G. This fine species, pre- 

 viously known as principally inhabiting the Russian province of In- 

 gria, where it is named Kobez, will acquire a peculiar interest in 

 the eyes of the British ornithologist ; since it is now formally re- 

 cognized, from re-iterated instances of capture in our own island, as 

 a British bird. It is distinguishable from all the other Falcons, 

 and especiallv from the Hobby to which it is most nearly allied, 

 and of which BufFon considered it a mere variety, by the orange-red 

 colour of iti feel. Hence, its specific designation is most apposite 

 and unobjectionable : and the lucky bird, unlike certain other aspi- 

 rant and predatory animal bodies exhibiting orange members, may 

 set reformers and reform, and even the menaces of the great Philo- 

 Hellenic Hume himself, at utter defiance. The plate exhibits spe- 

 cimens of an adult female and male, exquisitely drawn and coloured. 

 The corresponding figure in Werner's second number, although ex- 

 cellent, must at once succumb to the sui)eriority of talent evinced 

 by Gould. Omnia cedant Auro, 



Plate III. — The Kingsfisher, — Alcedo ispida, — Martin-Pecheur 

 Alcyon, Baboucard, Fr,, — Gemeine Eisvogel, G. It hath often 

 strangely perplexed us to divine where and from whom this beauti- 

 ful little creature acquired its specific designation. Time after time, 

 have we rummaged lexicons and other musty repositories of ancient 

 lore in search of the unknown epithet : yet no such term as /(t^i^os 

 in the Greek, or ispidus in the Latin, has been found to reward our 

 patient scrutiny. Perad venture, that profound ornithologist and 

 erudite scholar. Professor Rennie, should these humble pages be 

 honoured with his glance, may commiserate, and deign to " enlighten 

 our ignorance" on this subject. As ispida is the only European spe- 

 cies of the Alcedo genus, we shall not pause to trace its specific cha- 



