154 Mr. H. Seebolim on the 



the choice ceitainly to A. streperus or A. palustris. My 

 own experience, as detailed under S. arundinacea, would lead 

 one to call this bird Acrocephalus streperus (Vieill.). 



Salicaria macronyx (p. 84) . The length of the first primary 

 decides at once that this bird is an Acrocephalus. The wing- 

 formula is intermediate between those of A. streperus and A. 

 dumetorum. The length of the culmen of A. streperus is '7 to 

 '63 ; and by our rule the culmen of this bird is '62 ; so that we 

 may decide that it is a small bird of whichever species it 

 belongs to, and that in this respect the balance of evidence 

 is slightly in favour oi A. streperus. The length of wing of 

 A. streperus varies from 2*7 to 2'45. The length of wing of 

 our bird is 2 inches 6 lines, or 2'5, and may be that of nearly 

 the smallest A. streperus or the extreme largest A. dume- 

 torum. As we have already decided, from the size of the 

 culmen, that to whichever species it belongs it is a small 

 bird of that sj)ecies, the argument is conclusive in favour of 

 its being Acrocephalus streperus (Vieill.) . 



Salicaria eiirhyncha (p. 85) . The first primary being shorter 

 than the coverts, there is no doubt about this bird being an 

 Acrocephalus. The second primary being between the sixth and 

 seventh restricts the choice to A. ayricola and A. dumetorum. 

 The tail being one tenth shorter than the wing, and the 

 culmen measuring '69, are both conclusively in favour of its 

 being Acrocephalus dumetorum (Blyth), whilst the length of 

 wing, 2'33 to 2*42, is more in favour of that bird than of ^. 

 agricola. 



Salicaria sphenura (p. 86) . The length of the first primary 

 decides at once that this is an Acrocephalus. The wing-formula 

 — second primary equals the sixth, or is intermediate between 

 the fifth and sixth — agrees with A. dumetorum, and dis- 

 agrees with A. agricola, A. streperus, and A. palustris. The 

 comparative shortness of the tail puts another black mark 

 against A. agricola. The culmen, "62, puts a third black 

 mark against A. agricola ; and the length of wing puts a 

 fourth ; so that I arrive at the conclusion that this bird is 

 Acrocephalus dumetorum (Blyth). 



Salicaria gracilis (p. 86). The length of the first primary de- 



