SEDGE-WARBLER 87 



find a broad blackish band on each side of the head, 

 giving it the appearance of having the whole head black 

 in certain attitudes. This, added to the very distinct 

 markings on the upper surface, gave the bird an odd, 

 bunting-like appearance while creeping about the bottom 

 of the reeds ; on the wing, however, it was indistinguish- 

 able from a Sedge-Warbler, except, as I fancied, by a 

 warmer and richer colouring. Consulting Bree and Gould 

 I was confirmed in the view I take, viz., that the bird 

 was the Aquatic Warbler. The distinct, broad, blackish 

 band seems to me to give a clear mark of distinction 

 from the Sedge-Warbler." — Chfton, Cobbam Hall, Kent, 

 October 14, 1875 {Zoologist, 1875, p. 4693). 



SEDGE-WAEBLEE. 



Acrocephaliis pliragmitis (Bechstein.) Orn. Tas- 

 cJienh., p. 186 (1802). 



The Sedge-Warbler arrives in April, and is to be found 

 in all the reed-beds of the marshes, rivers, ponds and 

 ditches in the county, especially those of Komney Marsh 

 and the Lower Medway. Mr. T. Hepburn says it was 

 " common everywhere amongst the growth on the edges 

 of pools and dykes on the beach at Dangeness." It is 

 plentiful on the Koyal Military Canal according to Mr. 

 K. T. Filmer, and Mr. E. F. M. Elms found the 

 " Sedge-AVarbler in large numbers among the ditch-reeds 

 at New Komney and Littlestone, incessantly uttering 

 their chiding notes, but (May 18, 1902) seemed as yet to 

 have no eggs.'' Among the summer arrivals in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Blackheath, Mr. C. Collingwood gives April 



