102 
TAI.LAS’S LOCUSTELl.E. 
It was however erased from the European list by 
Schleg’el, upon very much the same kind of evidence 
which induced that distinguished ornithologist to deal in 
like manner with Falco leucocephalus , and it is left out 
by Degland upon this authority. 
It has however recently come to light in that singular 
island Heligoland, where so many new birds, especially 
American forms, have been added to the European list. 
It was found by Herr Gatke, and has been introduced 
into the list of Birds new to Europe, described by Pro- 
fessor Blasius, in Naumannia, for 1858, p. 311, in the 
following words ; — “ Calamoherpe certhiola is a perfect 
gem in its new plumage; and here for the first time 
found in Europe. There are two specimens mentioned 
by Middendorf, as having been killed on the shores of 
the Sea of Ochotzk. Before these specimens were found, 
the original from Pallas, in the Berlin Museum, was the 
only one known.” 
Of this rare bird then there are it appears only four 
specimens in existence, a fact which is perhaps sufficiently 
accounted for by its similarity to the Grasshopper War- 
bler, whose well-known retiring habits fortunately pro- 
tect it from wholesale destruction, and make it even a 
rare bird. S. certhiola is no doubt closely allied to 
locustella, both in organization and habit. It is only 
distinguished by its stronger beak, by the posterior claw 
being in certhiola longer than the toe, and more curved, 
while in locustella the claw is shorter than the toe. 
Further, the tail of the latter is unicolorous; while 
in the former, as seen by the specific characters at the 
head of this notice, each tail quill is terminated below 
by a large ashy blotch. In all other respects the dis- 
position of colours in the plumage of the two birds is 
the same. 
