THE REED WARBLER 



Acrocephalus streperus 



'General plumage a greyish browM ; a wanner brown on 

 the wings, and brighter brown on runij) ; under parts a 

 delicate white, shading into buH on the flanks and under tail 

 coverts ; a faint light stripe above eye ; legs and beak, brown ; 

 eyes, hazel brown. Length, 5\ inches. 



The song of any bird is one of the most certain 

 methods, when really known, of identification. In 

 the case of Warblers and other small birds that flit 

 about rapidly, and always half-sheltered by vegeta- 

 tion, it is often exceedingly difficult to get a near 

 and clear view, and very hard to know exactly to 

 what species it belongs. This is particularly the 

 case with the Reed and the Sedge Warblers ; they 

 stick so close to their beloved shelter that you 

 rarely get a complete view of them, but if you 

 will wait quietly and patiently you are sure to 

 hear them burst out into a shorter or longer song 

 — then is your chance — and if you have the very 

 slightest sense of music, you will catch the notes 

 peculiar to that bird and that bird alone. The 

 Reed Warbler's song is very peculiar ; it is a running 

 trill of notes given out exceedingly quickly, and in 



78 



