78 THE BlllDS OF KENT 



Genus ACROCEPHALUS, Namnami. 

 EEED-WARBLEE. 



Acrocephaliis streperus (Vieillot). Nouv. Diet. 

 cVHist. Nat., xi., p. 182 (1817). 



This species is very numerous in all the tall reed-beds 

 in the marshes, and on the river banks in various parts 

 of the county. Its favourite haunts are those of reed- 

 bound lakes and large ponds, especially those on inland 

 private property, and it is very partial to large patches 

 of lilac bushes, the upright stems of which form a strong 

 support for the nests, which are not only built in a fork, 

 but will also embrace three or four straight, upright 

 stems, answering, as they do, for the stems of the reeds. 



The Keed-Warbler is one of the most familiar birds of 

 our overgrown sedge-covered ditches, ponds and lakes. 

 The bird is not silenced by an intruder on its privacy 

 and nesting-place, but will contmue its zig-zag notes 

 even when all else is hushed. Its curiosity is very funny, 

 for it will even come close up to one, to make sure of 

 the visitor's presence, before getting out of reach, without 

 the slightest sign of timidity. In the last edition of 

 Yarrell's British Birds it is stated that "the nest and 

 eggs were sent to the late Mr. Lightfoot, from Dartford, 

 in 1783, by Dr. Latham, who did not know the bird to 

 which they belonged." 



In 1802 the species was admitted by Montagu to the 

 Ornitliological Dictionary, and said to have been found 

 by him along the coasts of Kent and Sussex, from Sand- 

 wich to Arundel. 



It is common on the Eoyal Military Canal, more 

 especially at the Eye end, according to Mr. K. T. Filmer. 



