64 
SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY* 
Bearded Tit, or Reed-bird, Calamophilus biarmicus ,—Mesange moustache, 
Fr. —Bartmeise. G.— Our objections to the removal of this beautiful and 
interesting little bird from the genus Paras , with which it has been so long 
and naturally associated, are grounded on the principle which we have, on a 
former occasion, developed. The differences which it exhibits are not, in our 
view, sufficient to constitute a good generic character.* The two figures, male 
and female, here presented, are among the most exquisitely drawn and coloured 
in the whole work. 
Two species, formerly belonging to the Anas genus, now transferred, by Leach, 
to Somateria. The former plate represents the King Duck, S. spectabilis ,— 
Canard a-tete-grise, Fr.; the latter , the Eider Duck, S. mollissima ,—Canard 
eider, Fr. —Oca Settentrionale, It. —Eiterente, Eidergans, G. —The trachea of the 
male bird, of equal diameter in its whole length, is composed of hard, entire, 
cylindrical rings, connected by membranes. The inferior larynx is dilated 
anteriorly, and forms on the left side a bony protuberance, hemispherical and 
slightly elevated. The triangular base of the fundus of the glottis is very 
prominent. Sabine describes the trachea of the King Eider as exhibiting a 
similar structure. The following are the characters of the new genus, as traced 
by Gould : Beak swollen at the base, elevated, extending up the forehead, and 
divided by a triangular projection of feathers; towards the tip, narrow and blunt. 
Nostrils small, placed in the middle of the beak. The two figures, male and 
female, respectively exhibited in these plates, are drawn and coloured with 
inimitable correctness, grace, and splendour. 
White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, — Curvirostra leucoptera of 
Wilson. See American Ornithology , pi. 31, p. 42 ; and Northern Zoology , Vol. 
II., p. 363. Of this beautiful bird, one specimen only has yet been taken in the 
British islands, and probably in Europe : since it is not mentioned by Temminck. 
The colouring of the male bird, by Gould, is exceedingly fine. 
Ruffed Bustard, Otis Houhara ,—Outarde Houbara, Fr. —Kragentrappe, G. 
'—The genus Otis comprehends only three European species,— tarda , tetrax , and 
the beautiful subject of the present most striking and superb plate; which, 
although occasionally met with in Spain and South-Europe, is unquestionably a 
native of North-Africa and Arabia. Persons who idly prate about the unrivalled 
superiority of Audubon’s great work, will do well to gaze on this noble production 
of Mr. Gould’s pencil, and confess their error. 
The two next plates exhibit the only two European species of the genus 
* In order to justify this opinion, vve transcribe the generic characters of Calamophilus , as 
traced by Mr. Gould : “ Beak nearly as in the genus Parus; but the upper mandible at the tip 
somewhat curved. Tail elongated, wedge-shaped. Legs very slender.” 
