84 GREAT REED-WARBLER. 



Warbler ; and by some authors it is inappropriately termed the 

 Great &^^''f- Warbler. 



The Great Reed- Warbler is only a rare migrant as far as the 

 lower portion of Sweden, while the islands at the mouth of the 

 Gulf of Riga appear to be its northern limit, but in suitable 

 localities south of the Baltic it is abundant in summer throughout 

 Europe ; also occurring on the Caspian and in Turkestan. In 

 Morocco and Algeria it is to a great extent resident ; its winter 

 migrations extending almost to the extreme south of Africa. In 

 Egypt, and eastward to India, its line is crossed by that of A. 

 stentoreus, a close ally. The Great Reed- Warbler nests annually as 

 near to us as Calais, and is quite common in Belgium and Holland. 



In the breeding-season this species may be looked for among tall 

 reeds and bulrushes, whether on the banks of streams and lakes, or 

 on small ponds. The nest, seldom finished before the end of May, 

 is a compact cup-shaped structure, some five inches deep, composed 

 of dry reeds and grass, with a lining of the finer portions and the 

 flowers of the same ; the whole being closely bound to several 

 upright reed-stems, or sometimes willow-twigs. The 4-5, often 6 

 eggs, are pale greenish-blue, blotched and speckled with ash-grey, 

 russet-brown and dark olive : measurements "9 by '65 in. Only one 

 brood is reared during the season, and by the beginning of September 

 the southward migration has taken place. In its habits the bird is 

 generally bold, and it is conspicuous, as it flits from one clump of 

 reeds to another, or sits high upon one of the upper stems, uttering 

 its loud harsh song, karra-karra karra, karee-karee-karee, charra- 

 charra-charra ; it has also a croaking note when alarmed. It sings 

 from early morning till late at night. Its food consists principally 

 of insects and their larvae, especially reed-beetles {Donacia) ; but in 

 autumn it is said to eat elder-berries, &c. 



The adult male has a dull whitish streak from the nostrils over 

 each eye ; the upper parts are warm olive-brown, with paler tips and 

 margins to the feathers of the wings and the graduated tail ; under 

 parts warm buff, whiter on the throat and belly ; bill brown, 

 yellowish at the base ; inside of the mouth orange-yellow ; irides 

 brown; legs pale horn-colour. Length 7-8 in. ; wing to the tip of 

 the 3rd and longest quill (the first or bastard being very small) 

 375 in. The female is slightly smaller. The young are more 

 fulvous on the under parts, and are slightly striated on the sides of 

 the neck and throat. 



