SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
255 
interlacing the trees, formed the chief features. At one of these oases we found 
several Cashew-trees* ( Anacardium Occidentale) in full bearing, a most welcome 
discovery where water is scarce. 
Law Park , near St. Andrews , 
Dec. 12, 1838. 
(To he continued.) Utl 
SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY.t 
Gould’s “ Birds of Europe,” Part XX. 
By Neville Wood, Esq. 
(Continued from p. 191.) 
Bed-collared Nightjar, Vociferator ruficollis , N. Wood, —Engoulevent 
a-collier-roux, Fr. —A male is figured, natural dimensions; the plumage is 
executed with great delicacy. Inhabits the North of Africa, very rarely visiting 
Europe. The female nearly resembles the male, but has less white on the throat. 
Habits unknown. 
Blackwinged Elanus, Elanus melanopterus ,—Elanion blanc, Fr .—An adult 
and a young bird are given, of the natural size. In attitude the upper figure 
reminds us of the performances of our worthy countryman W. Lewin. It is 
dispersed over all the temperate portions of the whole world, but is no where a 
permanent resident in Europe. Subsists on insects, and occasionally eats reptiles 
* The Cashew-tree belongs to the natural order Terebinthacece. It is an elegant tree, bearing 
handsome corymbs of sweet-scented flowers, succeeded by an edible fruit of the apple kind, of a 
yellow or red colour. The fruit has an agreeable subacid flavour, and some degree of astringency. 
The Cashew-nut protrudes from one end of the apple. It is of the size and shape of a Hare’s kidney, 
but is much larger at the end next the fruit than the other. The outer shell is of an Ash-colour, 
and very smooth; under this there is another which covers the kernel; between these there is a 
thick inflammable oil, which is very caustic; this will raise blisters on the skin, and has often 
been very troublesome to those who have incautiously put the nut into their mouths to break the 
shell. The kernel when fresh has a most delicate taste, and abounds with a sweet milky juice. 
This tree also annually transudes from five to twelve .pounds weight of a semi-transparent gum, 
similar to gum-arabic, and not inferior to it in virtue or quality, except that it has a slight astrin¬ 
gency, which perhaps in some measure renders it more valuable_H. B. 
+ We have received the January number of The Analyst, containing a continuation of the 
critical notices of Mr. Gould’s work ; and we feel called upon to express our thanks to the writer 
(Dr. Shirley Palmer, of Birmingham) for correcting an unaccountable misstatement of ours in 
a recent No. of The Naturalist. The articles in question were commenced by Dr. P., and not 
by ourselves, which we are fully as desirous to make known as the Doctor himself can be. 
