276 SKETCHES OP EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



dusky ornithologists like Pennant, as a distinct species, under the 

 title of P. ohscuruSf or Dusky Grebe. 



Plate XIV. — The Grey Wagtail, — Motacilla hoarula, — mela- 

 nops, — sulphurea, of older authors, cinerea, of the moderns), — Ber- 

 geronnette jaune, Fr., — Gutrettola da Codizinzola, It. ; — of which 

 we have here two exquisitely-coloured figures, illustrative of the 

 appearance of the bird in its summer and winter plumage. It strik- 

 ingly resembles, in its latter condition, the Yellow Wagtail, now 

 separated from it, by removal of the last to the genus Oat- ear, fiw- 

 dytes. In summer, both sexes assume, with a brighter plumage, 

 a circumscribed patch of black, — not so intense in the female as the 

 male, — upon the throat. After the autumnal moult, the black dis- 

 appearing, is replaced by a yellowish-grey tinge. Yet, even in this 

 state, the species may be distinguished from its former congener, by 

 a more " slender and symmetrical" figure, the " grey colour of the 

 back, and bright-sulphur hue of the rump." The Grey Wagtail, 

 regarded as a British bird, is an intra-insular vagrant ; not wander- 

 ing, even in winter, beyond the precincts of our own island. It 

 migrates to its northern breeding-places in April; and, having 

 achieved the important process of incubation, returns, about Octo- 

 ber, to the more genial regions of the south. 



Plate XV. — The Golden-Eye, — Clangula vulgaris. The male 

 and female of this interesting species, the Golden-eyed Garrot, — 

 Clangula bmiaculataj — chrysophthalma, of modern ornithologists, — 

 (Anas clangula J of Linnseus), — Canard Garrot, Fr.j — Anatra Ca- 

 none Doraenicano, It., — die Schelle Ente, G., — are here depicted, 

 two thirds of the natural size, with uncommon fidelity of outline, 

 and in an admirable style of colouring. Besides this, there is only 

 one other species, C. histrionica, of the newly-constituted genus. It 

 is principally distinguished, from its congener, by the existence of a 

 large white spot at the base of the bill, on each side ; and has hence 

 obtained its specific designation, himaculata, or two-spotted. The 

 female differs widely in plumage from the male ; and was once re- 

 ferred, with the immature bird of that sex, to a distinct genus, un- 

 der the title of Anas Glaucion, or Morillon. Anatomical inspection 

 of the trachea, which is very singularly constituted, and exhibits, in 

 the young and the adult male, perfect identity of structure, has 



