SKETCHES OP EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
471 
Dbmme Regenpfeifer, Morenel Regenpfeifer, G.,—is here presented in admirable 
fidelity of outline and colouring. The two figures presented by Mr. Gould 
illustrate the diversities of plumage in the adult and young bird. 
Three-toed Woodpecker, Ficus tridactylus —Pic tridactyle ou Picoide, Fr .—• 
Picchio a-tre-dita, It .—Dreizehiger Specht, G.,—is distinguished from the other 
species of the Picus genus by the absence of the back toe: and hence has been 
removed, by Swainson, into a new genus, under the title of Apternus tridactylus. 
See North-American Zoology, Vol. II., p. 301. In character and habits, it 
otherwise closely resembles its ancient congeners. It is common in the Northern 
parts of the European Continent, and the Swiss Alps; and occasionally visits 
France and Germany; but has never yet been seen in the British islands. The 
male bird is principally distinguished from the female by the existence of a golden- 
yellow patch on the crown of the head. A figure of each sex is admirably 
delineated by Mr. Gould. 
Little Bustard, Otis tetrax , Linnaeus, — -minor, Ray, —Outarde canepetiere, 
Fr. —-Gallina pratarola, It. —der Kleine Trappe, G.—The Little Bustard, common 
in the Southern parts of Europe and North-Africa, is only an occasional and rare 
visitant of the British islands. It is now ascertained that the adult male 
resembles in its plumage, during Winter, the adult female and the young bird, and 
merely assumes, for the Summer-season, the characteristic markings of the male 
plumage. The two figures, given by Mr. Gould in illustration of these diversi¬ 
ties of sex, are amongst the most admirably-executed in the whole work. 
Great Shrike, Lanius excubitor , in the act of destroying a Dragon-fly. The 
colouring of the irridescent wing of the writhing insect is exquisite; and that of 
the destroyer itself is little less to be admired. The species—Pie-grieche grise, 
Fr. —Velia cenerea, It. —Grauer Wurger, G.—forms the type of the new genus 
Collurio , as constituted by Dr. V igors, under the title of C. excubitor. The 
principal ground of separation consists in the rounded figure of the wing, which in 
the Lanii is more pointed; in the lengthened and graduated tail'; and in the 
general superiority of size, of the species composing the genus Collurio. Other 
ornithologists retain the Grey Shrike in Lanius , and transfer its two British 
congeners to Collurio . 
Pomarine Gull, Lestris pomarinus , Temminck, —Cataractes pomarinus , 
Stephens,-— Le Stercoraire raye, Brisson, —Pomarin, Temminck, —Felsen Meve, 
G.—This fine, powerful, and courageous bird, the Pomarine Skua of modem 
writers, and belonging to the Faridas , was formerly included in the Gull genus. 
Two other European species, the Common and Arctic Skuas, now compose, with 
it, the genus Lestris or Cataractes. They are described by Bewick in a distinct 
section, under the title of “ Predatory Gulls.” The Pomarine Skua inhabits the 
Northern regions of both Continents; and visits, only, however, in its immature 
