5o6 PERCHING BIRDS 



structure of bents, sedge, etc., with a little hair, down, and a feather or 

 two by way of lining, may be placed either on beaten-down flags or 

 rushes, on a branch above the latter, or even on the ground itself. 

 The eggs, of which from four to six constitute a clutch, are generally 

 clouded with pale olive-brown or huffish grey, more or less completely 

 concealing the original greenish-white ground ; and upon this clouding 

 may be mottlings of darker brown, while hair-like streaks of black 

 occur not unfrequentl}' near the larger end, more especially in clutches 

 of uniform colour. 



Although the greater reed-warblcr {AcroccpJialus tiirdoides, ox arundi- 

 naceus) is asserted to have nested on more than one occasion in 

 England, the statement is not generally accepted by ornithologists, 

 and it is probable that the authenticated occurrences of the species in 

 England during the nineteenth century are only about seven. A 

 specimen was, however, recorded from Sussex in 1903, and another 

 from Norfolk in 1906. The species, which ranges in summer over 

 the greater part of continental Europe, where it extends as far north 

 as southern Sweden, and winters in Africa, is distinguished from the 

 other British members of the group by its superior size, the total 

 length falling only just short of 8 inches. 



Reed-Wren Readily distinguishable from the sedge-bird by the 

 (Acrocephalus absence of dark and light streaks on the crown of 



streperus). ^^ head, the reed-wren or reed-warbler, as it is 

 commonly called in ornithological works, comes 

 very close to the undermentioned marsh-warbler. With a length not 

 exceeding 5^ inches, the reed-wren may, however, be recogni.sed by the 

 chestnut tinge of the loins and upper tail-coverts, the remainder of the 

 upper-parts being uniform pale brown, with the exception of a narrow 

 buff eyebrow-streak, and buff edges to the quill-feathers and greater 

 wing-coverts ; the under-parts are white, passing into reddish buff on 

 the flanks and tail-covcrts. The plumage of the two se.xes is alike ; 

 but young birds are duller in colouring, with most of the under-parts, 

 especially the flanks, much more tawnj', and the abdomen ashy white. 



The reed-wrcn prefers a warmer climate than the sedge-bird, and 

 does not apparently nest in Europe farther north than about latitude 

 58''', that is to sa\', Denmark, although the species visits the south 

 of Sweden : the eastern breeding-range extends to Turkestan and 

 lialuchistan, but some individuals ma\' halt in southern I'",urope, 

 the normal winter-ciuartcrs, and in Africa. On its arrival in the 

 British Islands, it spreads itself over the southern and midland counties 



