404 
SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
discussion differ from its congener, the Stone Ch&t^? Principally in the broad 
streak, or band, of pure-white, which passes from the base of the bill, above the 
eye, nearly to the occiput. Why then not, at once, designate the bird Rubetra 
albi-striata ; or give it any other more appropriate specific name indicative of this 
visible and unerring peculiarity of character ? The plate of Mr. Gould, repre-^ 
seating a male and female, of the adult age, is executed with his wonted elegance* 
talent, and felicity. 
Missel Thrush, Turdus viscivorus ,—Merle Draine, F. —Tordo maggiore, It * 
-^Mistel Drossel, G.—This bird, the largest of the European Turdi , is principally 
distinguished from its congeners by the grey colour of the space which exists between 
the eye and bill; and instead of deriving its specific designation from habits neither 
universally practicable or prevalent, nor peculiar to the bird, should be distinguished 
by some aptly-constructed epithet, expressive of its character. Temporo-griseus , 
although not sufficiently precise, is the best which, at present,suggests itself to our 
mind. The absurdity of the ancient terrrt is self-evident. Confine a cock-sparrow* 
and place him upon what the French physicians, whimsically enough, call diete 
in plain English, put him on short commons—for a couple of days; and take our word 
for it, he will devour Misseltce- berries as fast as you can procure, or his little stomach 
convert, them, with any storm-cock in his Majesty’s dominions. The Missel Thrush 
of Mr. Gould, although boldly and correctly drawn, is not quite so softly and har* 
moniously coloured as many of the figures displayed in the preceding plates. 
The Smew, Mergus albellus ,—Harle Piette, Fr. —Mergo Oca minore, /?.—* 
Weisser Sager, G.—The male of this species, the smallest of the genus, is dis^ 
tinguished by its white pendant crest. The female, to which the young male, of 
the first year, exhibits a close resemblance, was once supposed to form a distinct 
genus, and entitled the Lough Diver, Mergus minutus. Anatomical inspection 
of the trachea of the young, shewed its identity of structure with that of the 
adult male, and exposed the fallacy of the opinion previously entertained. • In 
this bird the windpipe displays a contraction immediately below the glottis; and 
then, gradually enlarging to the middle of its course, preserves nearly the same 
diameter to its termination in the lower larynx, which is proportionately smaller 
than in the other species of the Mergus genus, and very differently constructed^ 
The Smew, or White Nun, is a Winter-visitant of the Southern and Eastern 
coasts of Britain, of the inland rivers and the waters of the fenny districts. The 
adult male, however, is rarely seen; and the female has never yet been known to 
breed among us. She is said to lay from eight to twelve whitish eggs. Stephens 
has, without sufficient reason, removed the Smew from Mergus to a different 
genus. Mr. Gould’s figures, representing both male and female, two-thirds of 
the natural size, are finely executed. 
The Wryneck, Yunx torq?iilla ( Torquilla striata of modern svstematists),— 
