SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 15 
similar in plumage, but the male is larger than his mate. Mr. Gould believes 
that seasonal changes take place in the species, the rose colour being, according 
to him, characteristic of the spring and summer. 
Great Snipe, Scolopax major ,—Grande Becassine, Fr. —Beccacino maggiore, 
It. —Mittel Schnepfe, G. —A very fair figure of an adult male, living dimensions. 
Mr. Gould comments very justly on the inappropriateness of such names as 
major , minor , minuta , &c., and although these terms cannot be altered where 
they already exist, yet we trust such defects will not in future creep in. Occurs 
in Britain, but is most abundant in the north of Europe. It migrates singly or 
in pairs, and from its unsociable disposition has received the name of “ Solitary 
Snipe.” The Great Snipe is very similar to the Common Snipe, but may be 
distinguished with a little care, especially by comparing the two species. “ Its 
Eight is less tortuous and rapid than that of the Common Snipe, being performed 
in a more steady and“ even line.” In food, haunts, habits, nidification, &c., it 
resembles the Common Snipe. 
Solan Gannet, Sula Bassana ,—Fou blanc, Fr. —Weisser Tolpel, G .— 
Another of Lear’s bold and admirable productions. Such a plate as that now 
lying open beside us, is perhaps only to be met with in Gould’s Birds of Bur ope. 
It contains an adult bird and one of the first year, three-fourths of the natural 
size. “ The seas bordering the European shores are the natural habitat of the 
Solan Gannet.” Although a bird of rather local distribution—on account of the 
nature of its haunts—yet as its habits are extremely interesting, they have very 
frequently been given to the world in various shapes ; and therefore, especially as 
it would absorb several pages to go minutely or satisfactorily into the matter, we 
shall proceed with our analysis by passing to the next species figured in Mr. 
Gould’s work. 
Broad-billed Tringa, Tringa platyrhyncha, —Becasseau platyrhinque, Fr.— 
One figure is given, of the natural dimensions, which are not very large. In¬ 
habits the high northern regions, passing annually southwards along the rivers of 
the eastern part of the Continent. It is somewhat rare, and little is known of its 
habits. It undergoes a seasonal change of plumage. The sexes are similar. 
“ Our plate represents it in its autumnal livery, when the red markings of the 
ujpper surface have disappeared, in consequence of the edges of the feathers 
wearing away, while at the same time the rufous tint which covers the eye-streak 
and the face has given place to a dirty white.” 
Calandra Lark, Alauda Calandra ,—Alouette Calandra, Fr. —Kalander 
Lerche, G.—An adult male and a young bird of the year are figured. Its range 
“extends nearly to the tropics: it is very abundant in Northern Africa, and is 
common in Spain, Turkey, Italy, and the south of France, to the north of which 
