SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 311 
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cases and even excrements of the Cetacea, fishes, and the smaller 
marine birds. 
EIGHTEENTH PART. 
PuaTE I. Presents two charming figures, male and female, of the 
Martin or Eave-Swallow,—Hirundo urbica—l Hirondelle de Fenétre. 
Fr.—Rondine commune, J¢.,—die Hausschwalbe, G.,—Boeren 
Zwaluw, D. The only defect which we can discover, is a somewhat 
unnatural elongation of the head of the male bird. That of the fe- 
male, as it peers from “the canny nest,” is admirably true to nature. 
Pyare II. Equally accurate and pleasing representations of the 
Chimney-Swallow,—Hirundo rustica,—l Hirondelle de Cheminée, 
ou domestique, F’r.,—Rondine domestica, J¢..—die Rauch-Schwalbe, 
G.,—Huis Zwaluw, D.,—in the adult and immature states. Few of 
our readers are probably aware that a common plant, the greater Ce- 
Jandine,—Zwaluw-kruid (Swallow-wort) of the Dutch,—derives its 
Greek and generic Latin designation yea,3410,, and Chelidonium, from 
the circumstance of its flowering about the joyous period of the com- 
ing of the Swallow,—; mCendeve 
Prate III. The European Goatsucker,—Caprimulgus Euro- 
peus,—l’Engoulevent ordinaire, #7.,—Succhia Capare, 6 Nottola, 
It.,—Tagschlafer, G.,—Geiten-Melker, D. Than this curious and 
ill-fated bird, none has ever been more unjustly calumniated ; none 
more unhappy in either its generic or trivial designations. For nei- 
ther has it ever been convicted, on clear evidence, of defrauding the 
youngsters of the goat-family of their destined aliment ; nor is it, as 
the specific name would naturally imply, the only European species 
of this foully-belied genus. With a view of rectifying the errors to 
which we have just adverted, divers scribes of high ornithological cele- 
brity, have manfully exerted their well-known onomato-poietic talent : 
and the imposing terms, Vyctichelidon Europeus, and Vociferator 
melolontha, have been the felicitous results of the profound cogita-~ 
tions of a Rennie anda Wood. Now, if pigmies, such as we, may 
presume to offer an opinion on such grave and weighty matters, or 
question the dicta of the mighty in literature and science, we shall, at 
once, boldly affirm that neither of these appellations is altogether 
unobjectionable. The term, Nyctichelidon, or Night-swallow, is cer- 
tainly far preferable, as a generic designation, to its obstreperous rival ; 
but, for the reasons already assigned, the adjective, Huwropeus must 
be summarily discarded : and, on the other hand, the applicability of 
