The Great Reed- Warbler. 115 



flute-like character of tone, it stands a good distance behind it. Probably Herr 

 Rausch bases his remarks chiefl}' on wild specimens ; but it is quite possible that 

 he may also have heard them in captivity. 



Family-^ Tl U^DID.-E. S,<hfamily--SYL VIIN^. 



The Great Reed-Warbler. 



Acroccplialu$ lurdoides, MeyER. 



ACCORDING to Seebohm, the only satisfactorily authenticated instance of 

 the occurrence of this species in our islands is one shot near Newcastle, 

 on the 28th May, 1847, by Mr. Thomas Robson. Howard Saunders, how- 

 ever, evidently believes in three other British killed specimens, one shot near 

 Wingham, in Kent, on September 14th, 1881, one near Ringwood, Hampshire, on 

 June 3rd, 1884, and one shot near Sittingbourne, in Kent, at some unknown date: 

 he also believes in the existence of a specimen which frequented the Norfolk broads. 

 As the species breeds annually at Calais, and is common both in Holland and 

 Belgium, Mr. Saunders considers it a marvel that its visits to our shores are so 

 rare. At best this can only be regarded as a casual wanderer to Great Britain. 



F2 



