1020 WARBLER 
offer the only difficulty. The resemblance shewn by some other 
forms, such as TIMELIA (p. 962) and its allies, often placed with the 
Sylvudx, is equally if not more puzzling. Again, a small group of 
birds, almost wholly peculiar to the Australian Fauna, have been 
sometimes separated as Maluridx, 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” Sylviide—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. i1. 
pp. 257-260); but these limits will only permit us to touch upon a 
few of the most prominent members in addition to those which 
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 Calamoherpine, but 
more correctly Acrocephalinx, the commonest of which in England 
is the well-known SEDGE-BIRD or SEDGE-WARBLER, Acrocephalus 
schenobxnus, 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 to distinguish it from its ally the 
REED-WREN or REED-WARBLER, A. streperus, which is clad in a 
wholly mouse-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 his 
imitators have omitted so obvious a requirement, and leave to any one who would 
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 the 
essential structure of all is apparently so similar that at present there is hardly 
hope of assistance from the anatomist or the morphologist. 
