82 MARSH-WARBLER. 



bird has been watched year after year by Mr. W. Warde Fowler 

 and others. The late Mr. F. Bond had a genuine nest and eggs of 

 this species, which he took some years ago in Cambridgeshire, but 

 the pair of birds which he obtained at the same time and place are 

 simply Reed-\\\arblers (Coll. Brit. Mus.). 



Denmark, and Revel in Esthonia, appear to be the northern 

 limits of the breeding-range of the Marsh- Warbler ; while eastward 

 it extends across Russia to South-western Siberia, Turkestan and 

 Persia ; the bird wintering in many parts of Africa, as far south as 

 Natal. South of the Baltic it is generally distributed in suitable 

 localities throughout Europe, except in the extreme west, respecting 

 which further information is desirable. The ' Verderolle,' as it is 

 appropriately named in French, undoubtedly breeds in Picardy, and 

 as far west as Normandy ; but as yet no specimens are forthcoming 

 from the Spanish Peninsula, where the Reed- Warbler breeds freely. 

 In the low ground of Switzerland, as at Interlaken, Brienz, Lucerne, 

 &c., the Marsh- Warbler may always be observed j as well as along 

 the valley of the Rhine, especially near Coblenz (J. H. Salter), and 

 in Holland. 



The Marsh- Warbler does not frequent reeds, but often breeds in 

 cornfields, far away from any water except a small brook, though 

 usually in some swampy thicket or osier-bed. The nests never over- 

 hang the water, although often close to it, in low bushes, or among 

 rank meadow-sweet, cow-parsnip and nettles ; those which I have 

 examined were composed of fine round grass-stalks and lined with 

 horsehair. The 5-7 eggs are much whiter in their ground-colour 

 than those of the Reed- Warbler, with spots and blotches of olive- 

 brown and violet-grey: measurements 73 by '55 in. Only one 

 brood is reared in the season, but if the nest be taken, another is 

 soon built, and fresh eggs have been found in the beginning of July. 

 The male bird is often conspicuous at some distance from the 

 nest ; not skulking like the Reed- Warbler, but boldly pouring out 

 a song far more melodious and imitative than that of its congeners. 

 The food is similar to that of the Reed-Warbler. 



The adult is olive-brown above, with a faint buffish-white streak 

 over the eye; under parts white, tinged with sulphur-buff; wing- 

 feathers olive-brown, tipped and margined with pale-buff; bill horn- 

 brown above, paler below; legs and feet brownish flesh-colour. 

 Length 5-25 in. ; wing to the end of the 3rd and longest primary 

 27 in. : longer than in the Reed-Warbler. In fresh and fully 

 moulted birds the 2nd quill infinitesimally exceeds the 4th : the 

 reverse being the case with the Reed- Warbler. 



