II 
SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
Gould’s “ Birds of Europe,” Part XVII. 
By Neville Wood, Esq. 
(Continued from Vol. III., p. 482.) 
An adult, natural size, of the well-known Wood Snipe (or “ Woodcock” of 
sportsmen), Scolopax rusticola,— Recasse ordinaire, Fr. —Wald Schnepfe, G.—- 
well figured. Mr. Gould is of opinion that several species now included in the 
Snipe genus—and amongst others that under consideration—ought to form a new 
generic group, but our author has not himself ventured on the alteration. In 
Europe the Wood Snipe is only or chiefly known as a migratory bird, but of late 
years we have frequently heard of its remaining to breed with us. We think 
it probable that a few of these birds have always hatched and reared their 
young in Britain, and that the extensive drainage of land of almost every character 
now going on, will not cause any diminution in their numbers. Neither, again, 
do the active exertions of the sportsman and the poacher, during “ the season,” 
appear to effect any scarcity of the species. Being, for the most part, a winter 
visitant in the temperate portions of Europe, it passes its summer within the 
arctic circle, but is confined to the old world, and is extensively dispersed over 
Europe and Asia. 
Red-headed Pochard,— Fuligula ferina ,—Anatra Penelope, It . —Tafel Elite, 
G.—This is in every respect an exquisite plate, containing representations of the 
male and female, rather less than the size of life. Common throughout Europe, 
Asia, and, says Mr. Gould, a portion of Africa. It is taken in considerable 
numbers in this country in decoys, and sent to the London markets. It is a 
truly aquatic species, and subsists on molluscs of various kinds. Breeds in 
marshes, laying about twelve white eggs. The tints of the female are more 
obscure than those of the other sex. 
Bartram’s Sandpiper, Totanus Bartramia— Chevalier a-longue-queue, Fr. 
—Langgeschwanzte Strandlaiifer, G.—The figure—of an adult male, natural size 
—is accurate, but somewhat wanting in effect. In Europe this bird occurs very 
rarely, in Britain never, America being its true habitat. Feeds on insects. Ac¬ 
cording to Alexander Wilson —to whose pages our author has had recourse in 
his present description—Bartram’s Sandpiper does not frequent the sea-shore, and 
therefore we are a little surprised at the “ back-ground” (if it be not Irish so to 
designate the water in the plate before us) given by Mr. Gould. “ They run,” 
says Wilson, “with great rapidity, sometimes spreading their tail and dropping 
their wings, as birds do who wish to decoy you from their nest: when they alight 
c 2 
