The Oologists' Record, Jiaie ^. 1921. 



have more than once disappeared in quite an unaccountable fashion. 

 The eggs are some of the most handsome and most interesting 

 that I have found in Palestine, as they really do go through quite 

 a wide range in variation of colour and markings though eggs of the 

 same clutch scarcely vary at all. The ground colour may be white, 

 dirty whitish, greenish-white, greyish-white and almost brownish- 

 white — while the markings are generally profuse all over the egg, 

 and vet occasionally rather sparing, but always in the form of 

 blotches, these being all shades of sepia brown, greenish- brown, 

 grey-brown, and ohve with a few black specks and streaks on the 

 surface, and with various shades of grey and grey-green shell 

 spots. The size and shape does not seem to vary much. The nests 

 are unmistakable both as to their situation and construction, and are 

 principally composed of the dead outer bark of reeds and aquatic 

 plants, firmly and solidly interwoven and strongly bound to several 

 upright stems of aquatic herbage and are lined with finer materials 

 of a similar nature as well as fine rootlets and fine dead grasses. 



This Reed Warbler if not quickly seen, soon gives away his 

 presence by his noisy habits and almost ceaseless song which he 

 trills away while his mate is incubating the eggs. He never sings 

 far from the nest and is really most obliging, as he frequently goes 

 to see if the nest is still there, and by watching the antics of one of 

 these birds one can usually mark down the position of the nest to 

 within a few feet. WTien there are young birds in the nest the 

 parents are most arduous in their attentions, and pay not the 

 slightest heed to the intruder — and with a good high power camera 

 one could secure excellent photos with but little difficulty. 



I have so far taken no measurements of the eggs obtained in 

 1920, though the following details of the clutch taken in 1918 may 

 be of interest : — 



•69" X -50" ^ 



•69" X -50" ;> -677" X -50" 

 •65" X -50" J 

 The nest measured 2I" X 2" X if", all internal measurements. 

 The identity of this Reed Warbler was confirmed by several 

 skins that I sent to Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.. for 

 reference. 



I have only met with this interesting Httle bird in the marshy 

 locahties near the coast, and would call it common, though local. 



