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ON THE FEN REEDLING, 



(Salicaria Arundinacea, Selby), Reed-Wren, or Reed-Warbler, 

 of other Ornithologists. 



By Edward Blyth. 



Having some reason to suspect that this lively little songster is more gene- 

 rally diffused over the country than is commonly supposed, and apprehending that 

 few distinguish its chant from that of the Sedge Reedling ( S. phragmitis), lam 

 induced to offer a few observations to the attention of naturalists residing in dis- 

 tricts where it has been hitherto undiscovered, in the expectation that they will lead 

 to its detection in many localities where its presence has, as yet, been quite un- 

 suspected. 



Of course it is unnecessary here to describe the plumage and technical cha- 

 racter of the species, as these will be found in most works on British ornithology. 

 Bewick, however, omits to figure the bird, but annexes its name to a represen- 

 tation pf the Sedge Reedling, obviously confounding the two together. The 

 Sedge Reedling abounds in watery situations all over the country, even to the 

 northernmost districts of Scotland ; and no person of the least observation can 

 be otherwise than familiar with its abrupt and chattering, but certainly not un- 

 pleasing, song, with which it incessantly enlivens every ditch, continuing to do so 

 until about the middle or latter end of June ; after that time it is seldom heard. 

 It is a strange medley of a song, though, at the same time, it is altogether original ; 

 combining a characteristic chiddy, chiddy, chit, chit, chit, with a very sparrow- 

 like chou, chou, and an occasional and emphatic peet-weet, reminding one forcibly 

 of the Chimney Swallow. Then comes, perchance, a series of harsh, jarring 

 tones, followed, perhaps, by a seeming imitation of something else ; and not unfre- 

 quently the bird mounts, singing, a little way into the air, or chirrups as it flits 

 from bush to bush, or from willow to willow. I am sure that there are very few 

 who will not immediately recognize it from this description ; more particularly if 

 they have been accustomed to perambulate marshy and sedge-tufted places, during 

 the spring and summer. 



The extremely passerine character of many of this little bird's chirpings, have 

 gained for it, in various places, the vulgar appellation, " Reed Sparrow ;" just as 

 the homely garb and familiar manners of the common Hedge Dunnock, another 

 bird of slender bill, have occasioned the equally erroneous but popular name, 

 " Hedge Sparrow," to be its ordinary cognomen. 



Now, I certainly am not one of those who are willing to accept any kind of 

 name, merely because it chance to be popularly applied. Undoubtedly there 

 should be some rules for nomenclature, some system to regulate caprice. If any 



VOL. I. f 



