502 Mr. H. F. Witherby on Birds from the 



Hypolais pallida (H. & E.). [B. 187. W. 1903, p. 541 ; 

 1907, p. 88.] 



$ . May 6, Elburz Mts. (near Tehran, alt. 6500 ft.). 



ACROCEPHALUS ARUNDINACEUS ZARUDNYI Hartei't, Bull. 



B. O. C. xxi. p. 26. 



c£ (wing 96 mm.); £ (wing 98 mm.); J 1 (wing 99 mm.); 

 ? (wing 96 mm.); May 20, S. coast, Caspian Sea. 



" Very common in May in the dense reed-beds." — 

 R. B. W. 



These are undoubtedly breeding birds. Compared to 

 the typical western form they are paler and less rufous on 

 the upper and less buff on the under side. The bird obtained 

 by Mr. Woosnam at Ahwaz (cf. Ibis, 1907, p. 88) in Persian 

 Mesopotamia is, however, of the western form. 



Acrocephalus palustris (Bechst.). [B. 197. W. 1903, 

 p. 543; 1907, p. 88.] 



S . May 15, Elburz Mts. (near llesht, alt. 500 ft.). 



Acrocephalus schcenobjenus (L.). [B. 199.] 

 Four specimens from the S. coast of the Caspian Sea, from 

 May 16 to 20. 



Blanford quotes Menetries as the only authority for the 

 occurrence of the Sedge-Warbler in Persia. Mr. Woosnam 

 has no notes as to whether this and the preceding species 

 were likely to be breeding. Mr. Cumming thought that the 

 bird was a resident at Fao (<f. Ibis, 1886, p. 481). 



Cettia cetti (Marm.). [B. 200. W. 1903, p. 536; 

 1907, p. 88.] 



£ . March 18, S. coast, Caspian Sea. 



c?. May 4, Elburz Mts. (north side, alt. 8000 ft.). 



" I heard Cetti's Warbler once or twice about the middle 

 of March among swampy thorn-thickets and reeds, and 

 often high up among the mountains, where it was always in 

 the course of some stream." — R. B. W. 



The specimen of March 18 is moulting its contour feathers 

 but not the quill feathers of the wings or tail. 



