472 
SKETCHES OP EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY* 
state, the coasts of Britain. In this condition it closely resembles the Black-toed 
Gull, with which it has evidently been confounded by Bewick ; but it may be 
distinguished from the latter by its greater size, the more robust figure of the 
bill, and its longer and more roughly-reticulated tarsus. The principal distin¬ 
guishing character of the Lestris genus is the elongation of the two middle feathers 
of the tail; and, in our present species, thesefeathers are rounded at the extremity. 
It subsists upon fishes, and articles of food which, by pursuing and fiercly attacking 
the Gulls, it compels them to disgorge. Mr. Gould’s figures of the young and 
the adult bird are boldly and finely executed. 
Golden Oriole, Oriolus galbula^—hQ Loriot, Fr. —Rigogole commune, It.-— • 
Gelbe Rache, Gelber Pirol, G.—The figures of the male and female of this rare 
and beautiful visitant of the British islands are exquisitely drawn and coloured. 
The only European species of the genus, it closely resembles the Thrushes in its 
structure and habits ; and, consequently, belongs to the Merulidce. 
Still more admirably executed are the two figures representing, in its Summer- 
and Winter-plumage, the Little Grebe or Dabchick, Podiceps minor ,—Grebe 
castagneux, Fr. —Colimbo minore o Juffetto rosso, It. —Kleiner Steissfuss, G.— 
Five European and British species compose the genus Podiceps , as at present 
constituted. The subject before us is, as the specific designation indicates, the 
smallest; but size obviously affords a very crazy foundation whereon to establish 
a specific character. It would require more time and reflection than we can, at 
present, bestow on the subject, to select, or fabricate, an accurate characteristic 
term. Melanogenius would constitute a trivial term sufficiently precise and 
expressive ; but the black chin , unfortunately—a distinguishing character only of 
the species when dressed in its Summer plumage—is inconstant, and therefore 
unavailable. 
A correct and striking representation of the Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba ,—- 
la Lavandiere, Buffon, —Bergeronette grise, Temminck, —Cutrettola cenerea, It. 
—Weisse Bachstelze, G.,—it has never yet been our lot to meet with. The 
attempts of Bewick, Werner, and Selby also, if we recollect right, to delineate 
this sprightly and most elegant bird, are perfect failures; and even in the figures 
of Mr. Gould we are wofully disappointed. These figures represent the bird in 
its Summer- and Winter-plumage. In the former state, a large black patch covers 
the whole throat: in the latter, a slender gorget only of that colour is left. Why 
a really black-and-white bird should be designated white in Latin and German, 
and grey in French and Italian, it would wellnigh puzzle a special pleader satis¬ 
factorily to explain. Surely the specific term, melanoleuca , or nigralba , would 
more correctly designate the Pied Wagtail than the alba or the maculosa , hitherto 
employed. 
A most masterly delineation of the Herring Gull, Larus argentatus 
