AEDON GALACTODRS.
Rufous Sedge-Warbler.

Turdus arundinaceus, var. 8, Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. i. paooos
Sylvia galactotes, Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 182.

—— rubiginosa, Temm., ib. vol. iii. Deo

Turdus rubiginosus, Meyer, Orn. Taschenb., tom. iii. p. 66.
Aedon galactodes, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 972.

 

rubiginosus, Degl. Orn. Eur., tom. i. PeROLONE

Erythropygia galactotes, Bonap. Geog. & Comp. List of Birds of Eur. and N. Amer., p. 13.
Agrobates galactotes, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. Pee ale

Salicaria galactodes, Keys. et Blas. Wirbelth. Eur., p. lv.

 

Tus very attractive species has at least been killed twice ia England, and is therefore entitled to a place
in our avifauna. ‘The southern and eastern portions of Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, and Persia are
its natural home, in some of which countries it is as common and as well known to their bird’s-nesting
boys as the Nightingale and the Reed-Wren are to those of our own country. Its general colouring, like
that of Cursortus and some other eastern birds, is very similar to the sandy districts in which it dwells ;
Just as the Ptarmigan in winter assimilates to the snow with which it js surrounded ; but the 4edon galactodes
can at pleasure render itself conspicuous by spreading out and exhibiting the contrasted markings of its
tail, which it often does, perhaps toa greater extent than any other species of the Sylvide. The markings
of birds, often hidden when not in action, are of great interest to the ornithologist ; since observation has
shown him that such adornments are not given without a purpose, and that their owner has the power of
exhibiting them to the greatest advantage, whether it be the train of the stately Peacock, the decorated
tails of the Polypectron and the Turkey, or the fan-shaped tail of the present bird. It is said by those
who have seen the present bird alive, that a more attractive little creature can scarcely be found—its actions,
as might be inferred from its form, being sprightly and graceful as it flits from hillock to billock with its
tail at one moment erect, and at the next spread out to its fullest extent.

A record of the first specimen known to have been killed in our island will be found in the ‘Zoologist’
for 1854, p. 4511, where Mr. William Borrer, Jun., says :—‘* As G. Swaysland, a bird-stuffer, of Brighton,
was driving near a part of the South Downs, about six miles from that town, known as Plumpton
Bosthill, on the 16th of September, he noticed a bird which he supposed to be a cream-coloured variety
of the Nightingale. Having no gun, he proceeded about four miles to obtain one, and returning to the spot
found the bird about twenty yards from where he first observed it. It was very wary, flying always to the
further side of some furze-bushes, mounting into the air some fifteen yards, and settling on the side furthest
from him. Swaysland describes its flight as resembling that of the young of the Red-backed Shrike.
He at last got a shot, at about forty yards, and killed it. On dissection it proved to be a male, and would
shortly have moulted, one or two young primaries having made their appearance ; they were darker-coloured
than the old ones. The feathers also on the back and tail, especially the central ones of the latter, are much
worn.” Mr. Borrer borrowed the bird and sent it to Mr. Yarrell; and it is from this specimen that the
figure in the second Supplement of the ‘ British Birds’ was taken. It is now in the possession of Fuller
Maitland, Esq.

The occurrence of the second English example is thus recorded by Mr. G. R. Gray in the ‘ Annals and
Magazine of Natural History,’ vol. iv. 3rd ser., 1859, p. 399 :— .

“A second specimen of the Rufous Sedge Warbler (4édun galactotes) was killed near Start Foint,
South Devonshire, on the 25th of September last. It was shot by William D. Llewelyn, Esq., by whom it
That gentleman observed that its flight much resembled that

has been presented to the British Museum. !
Its visit was probably occasioned by the strong southerly wind

of a Lark, and that it was exceedingly thin.
which had prevailed for several days.” is
According to Temminck, it was first obtained at Gibraltar, by M. Natterer, a distinguished trayelewand
naturalist Attached to the Imperial Maseum of Vienna, who subsequently ae other examples at Algesiras.
Latham (who, in his ‘General History of Birds,’ calls ut Gibraltar W Se ee oe s
detection) says it arrives there “the last week in April, is a a bird, void of fear, perching on the
tops of shrubs, hedges, and walls in the manner of the Redstart. oe ae oe
Mr. O. Salvin, in his “Five Months Birds’-nesting in the Eastern Atlas” (‘ The Ibis,’ 1859), says :—