SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY, 
03 
of the neck serves at once to distinguish the European Avocet from the three 
extra-European species— R. Americana , R. rubricollis^ and R. Orientalis —of this 
small genus. As the legs of the American species are of a “ light blue’* colour— 
Wilson, Amer. Ornithology , Vol. III., p. 30—the German blaufussiger is obvi¬ 
ously inapplicable as a distinctive epithet of the European bird. C. alba , of 
Gmelin, is not an Avocet. 
Snow Finch, Fringilla nivalis ,—Grosbec niverolle, Fr. —der Schneefink, G., 
a male and female, charmingly delineated. Inhabits the Alps, Pyrenees, and 
Other mountainous districts. 
Harlequin Duck, Clangula liistrionica ,—Canard a-collier, ou histrion, Fr.—* 
Anatra con-collare, It. —die Kragen Ente, G. —A splendid bird, splendidly 
delineated in two figures, male and female. 
Two species of Thrush, Turdus musicus ,—Merle grive, Fr. —Tordo botaccio, 
It .—Sing Drossel, G.; and T. Iliacus ,—Merve mauvis,—Roth Drossel.—The 
former, our favourite Song Thrush, is principally distinguishable from the other 
British species by the yellow , and the Redwing by the black and yellow , colour of 
the space between the bill and eye, and might aptly receive their respective 
specific designations from this invariable character.—See Analyst , Vol. III., 
p. 269. Both figures are beautifully executed by Mr. Gould ; but the flank of 
T. Iliacus is rather too highly-coloured: and the tails of both, it strikes us, are 
unnaturally stunted. 
Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus ,—Rale d’eau, Fr. —Gallinella palustre. It.—* 
Wasser Ralle, G. —In the general outline and character of this well-known bird, 
Mr. Gould has not exhibited his wonted talent and accuracy. The neck is much 
too thick, and the whole figure clumsy. The humble production of old Bewick's 
hand is far more expressive and characteristic. See History of British Birds , 
Vol. II., p. 126. 
Richardson's Skua, L. Richardsonii. —A common species on the coasts of 
Britain, and her Northern islands: hitherto confounded with Larus parasiticus 
of Linnaeus ; and first discriminated by Dr. Richardson, whose name it bears. 
“ It is a more robust and powerful bird than Lestris parasiticus ; and the upper 
surface of its plumage is darker and more uniform in colour. Two finely-executed 
figures, illustrative of varieties of plumage dependent on age, are presented in 
this plate. 
On the same plate is an admirably-executed figure of the Parasitic Skua, 
Lestris parasiticus ,—Stercoraire parasite ou labbe, Fr. —Stercorario di-coda-longa, 
It. —Struntmeve, G.—adverted to in the preceding paragraph. It is the Arctic- 
bird of Edwards ; Larus parasiticus of Linnaeus ; and Cataractes parasitica 
of subsequent naturalists. Its claim to the title of a British bird is very 
questionable. 
