272 SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



ed," says Mr. Gould, " to the kindness of M. Temminck for the 

 loan of the fine specimen of this hird from which the accompanying 

 figure was taken, and which, he informed us, was killed in Iceland. 

 In every respect, except in having a black tail, it resembles the 

 Solar Gannet {Sula Bassana). which bird, when fully adult, has 

 a white tail. Whether this difference be an accidental variation — 

 or, if not, whether the difference is of sufficient importance to justify 

 a specific distinction — we are unable to decide." A much less dif- 

 ference, if permanent and not accidental, would go to prove, not to 

 justify, a specific distinction. The fact is, that we know but little 

 about the bird in question. Probably it is a distinct species from 

 our long-established tenant of the Bass Rock ; but we wait for a 

 series of specimens. The figure is very good, and represents the 

 bird about three-fourths of the natural size. 



Jack Snipe, Scolopax Gallinula, Linn. — Becassine sourde, Fr. — 

 Moorschnepfe, G. — Beccacino minore, //. A pair of these birds are 

 well represented and beautifully coloured. — Like its relative, the 

 Common Snipe, the Jack Snipe is one of our autumnal visitors, 

 leaving us in spring for the arctic regions, where it rears its young. 

 It is the least of the true Scolopacidas, and is spread throughout the 

 continent of Europe generally ; but not much beyond its eastern 

 limits. Among the numerous collections received by Mr. Gould 

 from the Himalaya Mountains, he only remembers a single speci- 

 men. The individual from which the drawing was taken, Mr. 

 Gould informs us, was taken alive by himself, from before the nose 

 of the pointer, a proof how closely it crouches, and how much less 

 ready it is to take wing than the common species. Indeed, it some- 

 times almost allows itself to be trodden upon before it will rise. In 

 other respects its manners are those of the Common Snipe. 



Black-and- White Lark, Alauda Tartarica, Pall. — Alouette 

 negre, Fr. Two figures are given of this species of Lark, the 

 one in winter, the other in summer, plumage. Both are dis- 

 proportionately large to the ground, and therefore give the ap- 

 pearance of larger birds than is really the case, the figures being of 

 the natural size. — Ihe Alauda Tartarica is a native of the high 

 northern regions of the old continent, where it enjoys a most exten- 

 sive habitat, being dispersed, as we have reason to believe, over the 

 whole of Siberia, Northern Russia, Lapland, &c, and from whence 

 it performs periodical migrations into more temperate climes. Like 

 the Plectrophancs nivalis, and Lapponica, it is subject to very con- 

 siderable and contrasted changes in the colouring of its plumage at 

 opposite seasons. During the rigorous months of winter, its clothing 



