SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY• 
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southward in winter, and proceeding to Africa. At least we shall remain satisfied 
with this view of the case until it can be proved that our lakes and rivers become 
stocked with Swallows in winter ; and that while, on the one hand, human 
beings of both sexes and of all ages are gliding over the ice above, Pike and other 
fish dwelling in the regions below, and commonly considered voracious and 
destructive, are now too intensely frozen to offer any disturbance to their 
feathered amphibious companions! Perhaps the older naturalists went yet 
further, and conceived that this general immersion of animals so delicate as 
Swallows during the most rigorous season of the year, was a 44 wise dispensation 
of Providence”—an admirable contrivance for the mutual warmth and comfort of 
the finny and feathered tribes !!—However, so untenable an idea has long since 
been satisfactorily refuted, and the very existence of the notion at any time is 
considered a disgrace to the annals of philosophy. Had the matter not been 
discussed and settled long ago, it would be unphilosophic in any one to turn the 
matter into ridicule; but when all facts and theories tend to prove the impos¬ 
sibility of the old notion, and the truth of that which now prevails—when, 
moreover, we still find here and there an individual so ignorant or so obstinate 
that he cannot or will not see the clearest things in their proper light—or in any 
light at all—then we find the pleasantry rising irresistibly from our 44 organ of 
Wit.” But to proceed. 
Fern Nightjar, Vociferator Europeans ^—Engoulevent ordinaire, Fr. —Tag- 
schlafer («. e., day-sleeper), G.—A male is beautifully figured of the natural size. 
Inhabits Europe in summer, passing southward beyond the Mediterranean in 
autumn. It eats Moths, Cockchafers, and other nocturnal insects, and does not 
purloin Goat’s milk, as imagined of old!—The habits of this bird are extremely 
interesting, and might fill a volume, but we conclude that the leading incidents 
of its life are sufficiently well-known to the readers of The Naturalist; and as 
we wish in general to lay most stress upon species not British, we shall now pass 
on, leaving our good 44 Goatsucker” in the enjoyment of his evening meal. 
Tengmalm’s Owl, Noctua Tengmalmi ,—Chouette Tengmalm, Fr. —Bauch- 
fussiger Kauz, G.—An excellent figure of an adult male, living size, and 
altogether a facsimile. Occurs in France and Germany, is more abundant in 
Scandinavia, and probably extends throughout the Arctic Circle; it has been met 
with two or three times in Britain. In the night it repeats a melancholy note 
at long intervals, and it is quite defenceless in the day-time, whenever it 
is unfortunate enough to wander out of bed during a dream or an absent fit. 
Whether this propensity to wandering forth in the day-light proceeds from 
monomania , or whether some individual 44 birds of Athens” are regular 44 night- 
walkers,” is a point that will require further consideration. 44 It is said to build 
VOL. iv.— NO. XXVII. 
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