THE GREAT REED-WARBLER 45 



great reed-warblers, my glasses confirming the diagnosis. 

 Both birds were sitting on the reeds, as if resting, and we 

 stood silently watching them ; but they did not rest long, but 

 flew off into the reed after the manner of a reed-warbler. 

 And these were the first and last great reed-warblers I ever 

 saw alive, and they were as " big as mavishes." 



A native collector told me afterwards he was sure they 

 had bred two miles from there the year before. 



