314 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Sylvia. 



to describe the Garden- Warbler as Motacilla salicaria. 

 Nevertheless he not only failed to define the species clearly, 

 but described it inaccurately as having "supercilia alba" 

 and "pedes fulvi," and in his 'Fauna Suecica' (where the 

 name appears for the first time) refers to Albin (Nat. Hist. 

 B. iii. p. 56, pi. 60). The bird described by Albin under the 

 name of Sedge-bird is undoubtedly an Acrocephalus, any 

 Swedish species of which would have pale supercilia and 

 pale legs. It is appropriately figured perched upon a willow- 

 bush, which probably suggested to Linnaeus the name of sali- 

 caria, a most inappropriate one for the Garden- Warbler. 

 Inasmuch as the Garden-Warbler has no superciliary stripe, 

 and the colour of its legs and feet are bluish grey, I submit 

 that Linnaeus has no claim whatever to have clearly defined 

 this species. An equally fatal objection to the adoption of 

 this name is that the term salicaria of Linnseus has been, 

 in consequence of the faulty description alluded to, trans- 

 ferred from one bird to another until it has ceased to have a 

 definite meaning. Motacilla salicaria, Linn., apud Nilsson et 

 Newton, is the Garden-Warbler; Motacilla salicaria, Linn., 

 apud Bechstein (Orn. Taschenb.) et Meyer et Wolf, is the 

 Aquatic Warbler ; Motacilla salicaria, Linn., apud Latham 

 et Fleming, is the Sedge-Warbler ; Motacilla salicaria, Linn., 

 apud Brehm, is the Marsh- Warbler ; Motacilla salicaria, 

 Linn., apud Bechstein (Naturg. Deutschl.), is the Iteed- 

 Warbler; Motacilla salicaria, Linn., apud Pallas, is the Booted 

 Warbler ; and Motacilla salicaria, Linn., apud Heuglin et 

 Sharpe, is the Icterine Warbler. So completely has the term 

 salicaria been identified with the Reed- Warbler, that Selby 

 adopted it for the genus, in which he has been extensively 

 followed by both British and continental ornithologists. Under 

 these circumstances it seems to me that the spirit of the 

 British- Association rules will be best carried out by calling the 

 Garden- Warbler Sylvia simplex, Lath. 



The Lesser Whitethroat appears to be unquestionably en- 

 titled to stand as Sylvia curruca (Linn.) (Syst. Nat. i. p. 329). 

 I take it to be " la Fauvette babillarde " of Brisson, Buffon, 

 and D'Aubenton. Three forms of this bird appear to be en- 

 titled to rank as subspecies : affinis, Blyth (J. A. S. Beng. 



