has her altar been ever since surrounded with darkness and mystery. Socrates himself dared not cheat Esculapius, however he laughed at Jupiter. The Asclepiadans grew rich when the priest of Apollo grew poor, and monarchs shrunk before the man who had rent the veil of death itself. The priests, alone, of our own land possessed the charm of the physician; then the cowled and gloomy monk held the poisoned chalice to the victim's lip; next the dim, mysterious Doctor, who, with overwhelming brows, culling of simples in his dingy shop, hung round with alligators stuffed, and skins of hideous, ill-shaped fishes, the very dust of years gone by, coating the unbrushed webs of a hundred spiders. There, in his dark gown, night after night, communing with the magic of his art, prying into the vocabulary of heaven for the uncertain horoscope; while the distilling vapours of simples, but of potent kind-vervain and yew-gathered, in the moon's eclipse, with solemn incantation, wreathed in misty vapours round the walls; the whitened crucibles, the ever-burning, bubbling furnace, the flickering lamp gently lighting up the magic sanctuary, or falling just askant the worn and pallid features of the Doctor, who next degenerated into the little man in black, with the wide, white peruke.

But, like every other class, the Doctors have so multiplied that the original character is almost lost; the faith which of erst hung like a tassel to the gold-headed cane of the last century, has passed away as a tale that is told, and the learned little men in black and bob-wigs have too passed away to be numbered with slashed doublets and trunk-hose in the grave of the olden times. Multiplication breeds want-want breeds contempt of dignity; and thus professional gravity and importance has degenerated into tact, and what once rested in the mystery of faith-success-depends now on ingenuity.

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The Doctor is now vulgarly omnivorous, and lives in the world like all the rest of the world and he that a hundred years ago would as soon have thought of any other cloak than black, as that a pleader should forget his gown or a priest his cassock, now touches your pulse with a blue coat and brass buttons, corduroy breeches, and top boots. O tempora! O mores!

The Doctor is now a risible animal-he laughs, he jokes, he grows fat. "Look on this picture and on that." Who does not sigh for the little man whose very step was ghastly, whose face as he gazed down upon you with his dead, heavy-looking eyes, and pressing his cane like a divining rod against his chin, might have

been fancied a pilgrim from the other world, with his black potion. brought from Lethe itself to banish all pain in a profound repose? But the Usher of the Black Rod is now another creature; the awful intercommunion between the two worlds forms no part of medical study the Doctor is veritably a common-place person, and what he once owed to faith is now exchanged for tact.

W.

SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY.

GOULD'S "BIRDS OF EUROPE."

PARTS FIFTH AND SIXTH.

PART V. The fifth part opens with a very spirited and characteristic figure of the Bearded Lammer-Gupista barbata-Gupiste barbu, Fr.-Avoltojo barbuto, It.-Bärtiger Geieradler, G. This species (in its immature plumage the Vultur niger of some authors) ranks alone in the genus Gupista, which is intermediate between Vultur and Aquila. It is nearly allied to the Alpine Abern-Neophron alpina-and, like that species, it is found in various parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but not in Britain. It inhabits the highest ranges of mountains, and appears to be abundant in the Himalayas. Makes no nest, but lays its two eggs, which are white with brown blotches, on the hard surface of lofty and inaccessible rocks. The plumage of the sexes is similar, and no material difference of size is observable. The figure is one-third of the natural size, adult male.

The River Dunlin,-Tringa pusilla, Lath.-Bécasseau échasse, Fr.-Gambecchio oculetto, It.-Kleiner Strandlaufer, G. We are here given three representations, in adult summer plumage, adult winter plumage, and immature dress. They are the size of life, and well executed; that in winter plumage is the best. Inhabits Europe (including Britain), and specimens have been received from India. The borders of lakes and rivers are its favorite resorts. Food: worms, insects, and small crustacea. Nidification little known; the egg somewhat resembles that of the Common Sand

piper-Totanus hypoleucos-but is considerably smaller, of a reddish white colour, spotted with dark brown.

The Garrulous Roller-Coracias garrula, Linn.-Rollier vulgaire, Fr.-Blaue Racke, G. An adult female, natural size, is figured; a very fair representation. This beautiful bird is stated to be abundant in the oak forests of Germany, and likewise in those of Scandinavia. It is less common in France, and several individuals have been shot in England, where it has mostly been met with on the north-eastern coast. Frequents extensive woods; builds in the holes of decayed trees, and lays from four to seven eggs; these are smooth and shining, nearly round, closely resembling those of the Kingfisher, but considerably larger. Sexes differ little; but the young do not arrive at their full brilliancy till the second year. Food: worms, snails, insects, &c. Noisy and active in its habits.

The next plate contains, 1st, the Whitethroated Fauvet, Ficedula cinerea, Blyth-Fauvette grise, Fr.-Fahle Sanger, G.-Capinera commune, It. The character of the figure is good, but Mr. Gould has not recorded any changes of plumage. In many specimens the white does not extend lower than the breast. Very common in most parts of Britain and Europe, and has a short but pleasant song, uttered on the wing. Mr. Gould informs us it has the power of imitating the notes of other birds, but this we have never observed. Hedges and thick brakes are its favourite resort. It is a summer visitant with us. Makes its nest in low bushes, and sometimes on the ground (we have seen one in a yew tree); it consists of the stalks of the Common Bedstraw-Galium aparine-and is of very slight construction. Eggs four or five, of a dirty white, blotched with ash-gray. The second figure is the Whitebreasted Fauvet, -Ficedula garrula, Blyth-Fauvette babillard, Fr.-Klapper Sanger, G. It differs from the last in its smaller size, and in having the whole under parts of a silvery white. Mr. Gould's figure is a very good one. This bird is less common in England than the Whitethroated Fauvet, and has not been traced further to the north than Yorkshire. Inhabits the warmer parts of Europe. It is shy in its habits, but is rather more of a tree-bird than the last species; builds in low bushes, brambles, nettles, &c., and is often seen threading the interstices of hedges and brakes; it is partial to orchards, and may be seen at the tops of lofty trees. Eggs four or five, nearly white, blotched at the larger end with gray. It is, also, a summer visitant, and has a pleasant song, which we never heard it utter on the wing. Sexes resemble each other. Both these figures are of the natural size, and in their spring plumage.

A lovely representation of the Wood Pigeon,-Columba arborea, N. Wood-Colombe des bois, Fr.-Holtz Taube, G. Inhabits the middle countries of Europe, being less abundant in the other regions. Occurs in the midland counties of England, in large woods. We are informed by J. D. Salmon, Esq., that it is very common in the sandy district of Norfolk, where it breeds in deserted rabbit burrows, and the young are caught before they are able to fly. In general, however, it builds its nest in the holes of old trees, making little or no nest, and laying two white eggs. Food: Peas and other seeds of plants belonging to the Bean family (Fabacea), and also Turnip tops, Corn, &c. The sexes are similar, but the young, as in other Pigeons, do not possess the metallic lustre of the adults. The figure is of the natural size. This is erroneously called the " Stock Dove" by some authors.

Male and female Kestril Falcon-Falco tinnunculus, Linn.Faucon cresserelle, Fr.-Falco acertello, It.-Turm Falke, G.The figures are not wanting in character, but the plumage is too lax, and the air of the birds is not sufficiently bold and falconine. Inhabits the whole of Europe in greater abundance than any other of the genus, and also parts of Asia and Africa contiguous to the shore. Hovers over fields and waste lands in quest of small mammalia, birds, frogs, insects, &c., which it seizes in the usual manner of the Falconidæ. The male acquires its beautiful adult plumage at the age of three years, the female at the first moult. Young males resemble the females; and " this," says our author, "is the cause that so large a proportion of the birds bear the plumage just referred to, since but comparatively few survive the second year of their existence." The female differs from the male in the browner colour of the upper parts, and in having the upper parts and tail barred with brown. The figures are three-fourths of the natural size.

The Ivy Wren-Anorthura troglodytes, Morris-Anorthure ordinaire, Fr.-Gemeine Zaunling, G. Mr. Gould's plate, representing an adult bird of the natural size, is infinitely inferior to the really spirited and characteristic figure given by Lewin, who has occasionally, though but seldom, hit off his birds most admirably. It is diffused abundantly over the whole of Europe, and occurs also in Asia and Africa, and the countries bordering on the arctic circle. Abounds in the thickets of the cultivated parts of England, delighting especially in heaps of dead brushwood lying on the ground, and fluttering off, with a harsh twitter, on the approach of man. The song is short and loud, and is heard almost throughout the VOL. VI., NO. XIX.

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year. Indigenous in England, but sometimes falls a prey to the severity of our winters. Builds in almost any situation; the nest is domed, consisting chiefly of moss outside, lined with hair or feathers, and slender twigs wound round the entrance. We have seen the nest consisting entirely of leaves, and others almost wholly of hay. Lays from six to eight eggs, pure white, marked with small red spots. The sexes are not to be distinguished, and the young only differ in size from the adults.

A male and female, two thirds of the natural size, of the Whiteeyed Pochard-Fuligula leucophthalmos, Steph.-Milouin à-irisblanc, Fr.-Tafel Pochard, G.-Milouina penelope, It. Beautiful representations, but the female is not sufficiently feathery. Common in France, Holland, Germany, India, and North Africa; rare in England. It is an expert diver, and strong and rapid on the wing. Feeds on acquatic insects, water plants, mollusca, &c. Builds amongst reeds, on the banks of rivers and morasses. Eggs eight or ten, of a greenish-white colour. The female differs from the male chiefly in the under parts being brown instead of white. The young "have the top of the head blackish-brown, all the feathers of the upper parts edged with reddish-brown, and the white of the under part clouded with a lighter tinge of the same colour."

Male and female, size of life, of the Alpine Redwing-Tichodroma Alpina, Temm.-Tichodrome échelette, Fr.-Picchio muraiolo, It-Mauer Baumlaufer, G. These beautiful birds are well figured, and the colouring is exquisite. Inhabits the middle and southern portions of the continent, frequenting bleak rocks and mountains, and is found on the Alps, the Apennines, and Pyrenees. Its most favourite resorts are the ruins of castles and fortresses, where it may be seen hopping from stone to stone. Hence the name "Wall Creeper," which has sometimes been applied to it. This species moults twice in the year, and there is no very material difference between the sexes. The wing-coverts and part of the

quills are of a bright crimson. It does not occur in Britain.

An adult and a young bird of the Red-throated Diver-Colymbus septentrionalis, Linn.-Plongeon à-gorge-rouge, Fr.-Rothkehliger Taucher, G. Nothing can be more beautiful than the plate before us. Both male and female, figured two-thirds of the natural size, are truly gems of ornithological painting. This is the smallest of the genus, but the most abundant, being common on the European coasts, and especially in the arctic regions of Europe and America. In winter it is plentiful on the coasts of Holland and England, and betakes itself to lakes and rivers when the seas are frozen. Feeds