254 SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



hatchj Sitla riife.icens, Tenim. Mr, Gould introduces to the public 

 the Dalmatian Nuthatch as a new European species, being now for 

 the first time figured. " The Dalmatian Nuthatch is an inhabitant 

 not only of the country from which it takes its name, but also the 

 whole of the south-eastern portion of Europe generally ; indeed, to 

 this section of the globe it appears to be strictl)' limited. In its ge- 

 neral style of colouring, as well as in its form, habits, and manners, 

 it exhibits a striking resemblance to the Sitla Europcea." Of its 

 nidification nothing is ascertained. The magnitude of this bird, as 

 our author justly observes, sufficiently distinguishes it from the rest 

 of the genus. The sexes are similar. 



Knot Tringa, Triiiga canutus — Becasseau canut, Fr. — Chiurlo, 

 //. — Aschgraue Strandlaufer, G. Adults in summer and winter 

 plumage are given ; we do not admire tlie plate so much as many 

 we have seen, but still we perceive no radical fault in it. Mr. 

 Gould, on the authority of Cuvier, separates this species from Trin- 

 ga, without, we think, sufficient grounds for so doing. The Knot 

 Tringa is not resident in Britain, but abounds with us at certain 

 seasons. Frequents the sea-shore or the fenny parts of the country, 

 where it breeds. Common in the arctic regions of both worlds, 

 ranging throughout the circle. In England the Knot is much 

 sought after, by the epicures, for the table. The seasonal changes 

 are remarkable, the whole of the reddish tint which adorns both 

 upper and under parts of the summer attire giving place, in winter, 

 to a plain ash-gray and white tint, whence the German appellation 

 of Aschgraue Strandlaufer. The sexes diffisr little ; but what is 

 curious, and what was previously unknown to us, is that, according 

 to ]Mr. Gould, " the Jc7nale is the finest in colour and the largest in 

 size." 



Fantail Reedling, Salicaria cisticola, Gould — Becfin cisticole, Fr. 

 Mr. Gould places this bird, provisionally, in the genus Salicaria, 

 but we believe it will not long remain there. The design of the 

 plate, representing the female in her nest among the tall herbage, 

 on a stalk of which her mate is jjerched, is admirable. Inhabits the 

 southern and eastern parts of Europe, and the adjoining portions of 

 Asia and Africa. 'It frequents low and swampy places covered 

 with tall grasses, and," like the Marsh Reedling, " constructs a 

 nest pre-eminently curious and beautiful, excelled by none of a si- 

 milar character. Although incapable, from its small size, of entwin- 

 ing the larger reeds, it avails itself of the tall blades and stalks of 

 grass, among which it places its nest ; these it does not draw toge- 

 ther" in the manner of the Marsh Reedling, " but by piercing each 



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