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Genus AEDON. 



Turdus apud Latham, Ind. Orn. i. p. 334 (1790). 



Sylvia apud Temminck, Man. d'Orn. ed. 2, i. p. 182 (1820). 



Aedon, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 972. 



Curruca apud Ehrenberg, Symb. Phys. Aves, fol. bb (1829). 



Agrobates apud Swainson, Classif. of B. ii. p. 241 (1837). 



Erythropygia apud Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 13 (1838). 



Salicaria apud Keyserling & Blasius, Wirbelth. Eur. p. lv (1840). 



Calamoherpe apud Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. p. 141 (1858). 



Although I have followed Degland and Gerbe, Sundevall, and Professor Newton in placing the 

 present genus close to Acrocephalus and Hypolais, it appears almost doubtful if it should not be 

 placed nearer to the Crateropodinse ; for in many respects it assimilates very closely to Thamnobia 

 (a genus belonging to the Crateropodinse), near which it has been placed by several authors. 

 Von Heuglin places it near Malurus. Mr. Seebohm, who has lately been working at the 

 Warblers, informs me, however, that he intends to include Aedon in the genus Sylvia. 



In habits these birds differ considerably from the aquatic Warblers, amongst which they 

 have been grouped by so many authors ; for they are by no means constant residents in damp, 

 moist localities, but are more frequently to be met with in very arid places ; and in general habits 

 they are not at all unlike the species belonging to the genus Argya. They nest, however, in 

 moister portions of the country than those birds, and are said to be fond of placing their nests, 

 which are almost always built in some conspicuous situation, on tamarisk trees. The nest is 

 large, and stoutly built of straws, lined with wool and sometimes hairs ; and generally a small 

 piece of serpent's skin is deposited loosely in the nest — for what reason, has not yet been satis- 

 factorily ascertained. The eggs are peculiarly like those of the Tawny Pipit. The immature 

 plumage does not differ much from the adult dress, and is unspotted. 



These birds are insectivorous, and obtain their food chiefly on the ground. Their call-note 

 is harsh ; but their song is sweet and powerful. Their flight is not unlike that of some of the 

 smaller Shrikes. 



Aedon galactodes, which I take to be the type of the present genus, has the bill strong, 

 curved, and long, slightly notched, nostrils small, oval, supernal, gape without bristles; first 

 quill short, the second nearly as long as the third and fourth, which are longest ; tail long, 

 much graduated, and richly marked ; tarsi long, with broad anterior scales ; toes short, claws 

 small. 



Two species, Aedon galactodes and Aedon familiaris, inhabit the Western Palsearctic Region ; 

 and the genus is found only in the Palsearctic and Ethiopian Regions. 



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