CALAMOHERPE. REEDLING. 389 



Nostrils elliptical, pervious, in the fore part of the nasal mem- 

 brane, which is feathered behind. Eyes of moderate size ; the 

 eyelids feathered, their bare edges crenate. External aperture 

 of the ear large and roundish. 



Plumage generally blended, the feathers ovate and rounded, 

 with loose filaments. Wings of moderate length, a little 

 curved, broad, semi-ovate ; quills eighteen ; the first primary 

 extremely small, being about a fifth of the length of the second, 

 which is about the same length as the third ; all the quills 

 rounded. Tail rather long, straight, rounded, the feathers of 

 moderate breadth, and weak. 



The general form is slender, the neck short, the head ovate, 

 flattened above and narrow before. The feet of moderate 

 length, slender ; the tarsus rather long, much compressed, 

 with eight anterior scutella, and two longitudinal plates be- 

 hind meeting so as to form an extremely thin edge. Toes 

 much compressed, the second and fourth about equal, the first 

 strongest, the third much longer than the lateral, and con- 

 nected with the fourth at the base. Claws long, moderately 

 arched, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. 



The birds composing this genus are all of very small size. 

 They frequent low marshy grounds, overgrown with rank 

 plants, among which they pursue their prey, consisting of in- 

 sects and occasionally small mollusca, seldom shewing them- 

 selves, but skulking as it were among the herbage. The 

 genus is closely allied on the one hand to Sylvia, and on the 

 other to Anorthura, several species of both these genera ex- 

 hibiting not only considerable resemblance as to form, but 

 also a great similarity in their habits. Two species occur 

 in Britain, the Sedge Reedling, and the Marsh Reedling, 

 both summer birds. 



As specific names ought to remain as much as possible un- 

 altered, that amid the fluctuations of opinion something of no- 

 menclature may remain, I have adopted the name Calamoherpe 

 of Meyer, which is expressive of the habits of the species, and 

 that of Reedling, proposed by Mr Blyth, and employed by Mr 

 Neville Wood in his excellent " British Song Birds."" 



