I020 WARBLER 



offer the only difficulty. The resemblance shewn by some other 

 forms, such as Timelia (p. 962) and its allies, often placed with the 

 Syhiidse, is equally if not more puzzling. Again, a small group of 

 birds, almost wholly peculiar to the Australian Fauna, have been 

 sometimes separated as Mahiridse, and of these more must be said 

 presently. Lastly, there are certain genera that, though formerly 

 included without hesitation among the Sylviidx, have lately been 

 designated "Fly-catchers," on grounds, however, that have not 

 been explained : but to deal with this theme in satisfactory detail 

 would require far more space than can here be allowed, for the 

 failures of later systematists would have to be shewn by a series of 

 minute criticisms. 



I. All things considered, it would seem best at present to regard 

 the "Warblers" — without pledging our faith to the recognition 

 of a "Family" Sylviidse — from the point of view which obtained 

 before the more recent and perplexing (because ill-defined) opinions 

 were introduced. Such an aspect is afforded by the scheme 

 furnished by Canon Tristram to Mr. Wallace {Geogr. Distr. Anim. ii. 

 pp. 257-260) ; but these limits will only permit us to touch upon a 

 few of the most prominent members in addition to those Avhich 

 have been or will be the subject of separate articles. In this sense 

 then the first " Warblers " that may be mentioned are those forming 

 a group of more or less aquatic habit, often called Calamoherpinds, but 

 more correctly Acrocephalinse, the commonest of which in England 

 is the well-known Sedge -BIRD or Sedge -Warbler, Acrocephalus 

 schcenohgenus, whose chattering song resounds in summer-time from 

 almost every wet ditch in most parts of Britain. As is the case 

 with so many of its allies, the skulking habits of the bird cause it 

 to be far more often heard than seen ; but, with a little patience, it 

 may be generally observed flitting about the uppermost twigs of 

 the bushes it frequents, and its mottled back and the yellowish- 

 white streak over its eye serve lo distinguish it from its ally the 

 Eeed-Wren or Reed- Warbler, A. streperus, which is clad in a 

 wholly moiise-coloured suit. But this last can also be recognized 



to be said that he at least proceeded in a fashion that had long been recognized, 

 and gave reasons, whether good or bad, for the system he propounded ; but liis 

 imitators have omitted so obvious a requirement, and leave to any one who v\ould 

 use their results the task of discovering how they have been reached. Hence it 

 has been suggested that some of the alterations introduced since Sundevall's time 

 are purely arbitrary, if indeed they do not proceed from considerations of per- 

 sonal convenience, or occasionally even through mischance. Still the greatest 

 allowance must be made for those who attempt to reduce to order such a multi- 

 tudinous assemblage of forms — forms which present an almost endless variety of 

 small differentiating characters, pointing in numerous directions — while tlie 

 essential structure of all is apparently so similar that at present there is liardly 

 hope of assistance from the anatomist or the morphologist. 



