SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 
407 
Genet, Fr. —Wiesenknarrer,G.—This migratory bird, whose harsh and monotonous 
cry becomes delightful from its association, in the memory, with the balmy and 
incense-breathing nights of Summer, is, by modern ornithologists, separated from 
Gallinula ; with which we are surprised to find it still associated by Mr. Gould. 
The genus Crex , of which it is now taken to constitute the type, contains two 
other British species, C. porzana and C. olivaria : the Little Crake, C. pusilla , 
of Selby, having been transferred by Dr. Leach to the new genus, Zapornia. 
For a description of the generic characters of Crex , see Selby’s Illustrations , V. II., 
p. 174. The Crakes, according to this excellent writer, form a connecting link 
between the Rails and Gallinules: distinguished, from the former , 44 by a shorter, 
thicker, and more angular bill;” from the latter , by the defect of extension of the 
lateral membrane bordering the inferior surface of the toes, and of the naked skin, 
or plate, which occupies the frontal region of the Gallinule. 
The specific term pratensis , as indicative of circumstances of habitation, in 
which it does not materially differ from the other species of Crex, is not correctly 
applicable to the Land Rail. Crepitans or strepera , although probably not the 
most appropriate that might be devised, would be far more eligible than pratensis. 
Mr. Gould’s figure, with all its excellence of colouring, is clumsily drawn, 
defective in the outline of the head and neck, and by no means so strikingly 
characteristic of the crouching and timorous bird as the coarse wood-cut of Bewick, 
Yol. II., p. 130. 
Plate xii. is peculiarly interesting and important. It exhibits all the British 
species belonging to the genus Sylvia , as now constituted; and clearly illustrates 
the characters by which three birds, exceedingly difficult of discrimination, and 
hitherto frequently confounded, even by the experienced ornithologist, may at 
once be distinguished from each other. 
The first of these is the Willow Wren, or Yellow Wren, Sylvia trochilus 
( Motacilla trochilus , Linnasus),—B ec-fin Pouillot,. ou le Pouillot, Fr. —Fitis 
Sanger, G.— Specific Characters , according to Gould : w r hole of the upper surface, 
greenish-olive; a faint yellow streak above the eye; throat and breast slightly 
tinged with yellow; belly yellowish-white ; under tail-coverts yellow; leys dull 
fiesh-colour ; wings covering about o?ie third of the tail. Selby, in his description 
of this species— Illustrations , V. L, p. 226 —has erroneously referred to the suc¬ 
ceeding species in Temmtnck’s work. 
Second Figure. —The Chiff-chaff, or Lesser Pettychaps, Sylvia ( Motacilla ) 
hippohis ,—Fauvette de-Roseaux, Petite Fauvette a-poitrine-jaune, Fr. —Gele- 
bauchiger Sanger, G.— Spec. Char. : inferior in size to the preceding; eye-streak 
more faint; plumage less finely tinged with yellow; legs of an umber or blackish- 
brown colour. The Least Willow Wren, of Bewick, probably belongs to this 
species. 
