118 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



MARSH- WARBLERS OBSERVED IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



As the Marsh-Warbler (Acrocephalns pahistris) has not 

 pre^dously been recorded further north than Worcestershire 

 and Warwickshire, in the breeding season, it maj^ be of 

 interest to record that on May 28th, 1916, I saw and heard 

 one when passing an osier bed overgrowm with meadow- 

 sweet, nettles, cow-parsley and hemlock, which formed a 

 dense undergrowth. On June 2nd I heard another bird 

 singing in. some rough ground overgrown with similar plants, 

 and not far from a willow plantation, about a mile from 

 where the first bird was seen. 



This bird apparently stayed about a fortnight, after which 

 I never saw or heard it again. As I never saw more than 

 the one bird, I am inclined to think that it failed to find a 

 mate. 



The other bird continued to sing till Jime 19th, after which 

 I only heard occasional notes, but though I did not actually 

 find the nest, I have little doubt that there were two birds 

 and that they were breeding. 



Both localities were in south Staffordshire, not more than 

 a mile or two from the Worcester border, but at least thirty 

 miles, " as the Crow flies," from the district where I met 

 with this species breeding m considerable numbers in 1909 

 and 1911 {British Birds, III., p. 157 and V., p. 106). On 

 these occasions I was imable to watch them through the breed- 

 ing time, so that it was somewhat disappointing to find the 

 song cease so soon. In conclusion I may add that in this 

 locality Sedge- Warblers were moderately common and a 

 few pairs of Reed- Warblers were also present. W. Davies. 



LATE NESTING OF REED- WARBLER. 



On page 20 of this volume I recorded an exceptionally early 

 nest of the Reed- Warbler near Trmg. Near the place where 

 it was found, a keeper, when cutting some reeds, came across 

 a nest with three (? or four) hard-set eggs on August 18th ! 

 Unfortunately the nest was not seen until he had cut it 

 down and the eggs fell out and were broken. E. Hartert. 



[Dr. N. F. Ticehurst has recorded several clutches of fresh 

 eggs on August 6th, 1904 {Birds of Kent, p. 56). — Eds.]. 



THE REELING OF THE GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER. 



In reference to the notes on the reeling of the Grasshopper- 

 Warbler {antea, pp. 70 and 94), I should be interested ^to 

 know how the sound is produced — i.e., whether in inspiration 



