BRACHYPTERYX MONTANA. 



which was not rendered apparent in the figure of Edwards, and confirms the views 

 which were given of the character of the genus, although, as a species of Sylvia, 

 it was not noticed. 



Next to that of Brisson, the arrangement of Bechstein, as far as it regards the 

 genus Sylvia, should be considered. He has established four sections, which he 

 denominates families: vi%. I. Curruca, Grasmuecken, comprising many of the 

 Fauvettes-Currucas of Bressiou. II. Asilus, comprising the PouiUot-Asilus of 

 Brisson, the Hippolais, and several other species. III. Ficedula, Eigentliche 

 Saenger, comprising several of Brisson's subdivisions, particularly Phaenicurus, 

 Rubecula, and Trochilus ; and IV. Saxicola, St.eimn.aet%er, comprising Moteux — 

 Vitiflora — of Brisson. M. Cuvier, in placing as his Grand-genre, Motacilla of 

 l^iinnasus, has, in his subgenera, followed in part the divisions of Bechstein. Saxi- 

 cola, Ficedula, Curruca, and Accentor are cited agreeably to this naturalist; but 

 Regulus, Troglodytes, Motacilla in a limited sense, comprising only the Laven- 

 di^res and Hochequeues, are employed according to his own views. M. Temminck 

 has divided the genus Sylvia of Latham into five sections : — ^Riverains, Sylvains, 

 Muscivores, Roitelets, and Troglodytes, which however do not include Saxicola ; 

 this he introduces as a distinct genus. Here it must be apparent, that both Cuvier 

 and Bechstein have placed Saxicola at the extremity of the subdivisions which they 

 individually establish, affording thus an indication of its deviating from the more 

 regular forms of the genus. Brachypteryx deviates stiU further than Saxicola from 

 Motacilla or Sylvia, as respectively employed by Cuvier and Bechstein ; and a concise 

 comparative view will shew the necessity of separating Brachypteryx and Saxicola, 

 in a natural arrangement. As far as regards the form of the bill, the difference is 

 not considerable : in Saxicola (Enanthe this organ is comparatively slender ; in Bra- 

 chypteryx montana it is, upon the whole, larger in its vertical dimensions, more 

 robust, and more strongly notched ; the convexity of the sides of the upper man- 

 dible is also more apparent. The tarsi, which are proportionally of great length in 

 Saxicola (Enanthe, are still longer, and considerably more slender in Brachypteryx 

 montana. In the great narrowness of the toes and claws, both genera agree. But 

 the chief distinguishing character of our bird, and that which is strictly peculiar, 

 is the shortness and abrupt termination of the wings ; from this its name is properly 

 derived In Saxicola CEnanthe the wings are acute, and reach to the middle of the 

 tail : the remiges increase abruptly to the third and fourth, which are longest. In 

 Brachypteryx a very gradual elongation takes place to the fifth quill feather ; and 

 the following, to the tenth, are very nearly of equal length. The wings are thus 

 short and obtuse, scarcely extending beyond the abdomen, and only touching the 



