72 REED-WARBLER. 



The south of Sweden, and about 58° N. lat., mark the northern 

 limits of the Reed-Warbler in Europe ; but below this line the bird 

 has been found breeding in suitable localities down to the extreme 

 south of Spain and Italy, and perhaps in Algeria. Large numbers 

 pass the winter in the basin of the Mediterranean, whilst others go 

 down to Central Africa. Eastward, it is found as far as the coun- 

 tries between Baluchistan and the south-western portion of Siberia 



In the breeding-season the Reed-Warbler is by no means restricted 

 to reeds, or even to the immediate proximity of water; and Mr. 

 R. H. Mitford has given an account of the nesting of several pairs 

 annually in lilac-trees in his garden at Hampstead. On the Thames 

 and elsewhere the slender branches of willows and alders are fre- 

 quently selected ;" the nest being often ten feet above the ground or 

 water, and sometimes at a far greater elevation. Exceptionally nests 

 have been found in hedges fringing a river. Where reeds are 

 abundant, as in the Eastern Counties, they are usually preferred ; 

 and in every case the nest is supported by from two to four reeds or 

 twigs, as the case may be, woven into the sides of the nest, which 

 is so deep that the eggs will not roll out in the strongest wind. 

 Begun when the reeds are quite short, the nest is often a full yard 

 above the water by the time that the young birds are hatched. The 

 materials employed are dry grasses and moss, with a little sheep's- 

 wool, feathers, and horsehair for a lining, "but occasionally there is so 

 much wool that the nest seems to be made of it. The eggs, 4-5, 

 are greenish-white, clouded, blotched or freckled with dark olive, 

 ash-colour, and black: average measurements "72 by '53 in. The 

 Cuckoo is partial to the nest of this Warbler, and I have more than 

 once found two eggs of that parasitical bird in the same home. 

 Incubation begins very early in June. During the summer the 

 varied song of the Reed- Warbler may be heard at intervals during 

 the day, except in windy weather ; but it is loudest and most attrac- 

 tive during the long twilight of evening. The food consists of 

 aquatic insects — especially small dragon-flies — and their larvae, 

 spiders, slugs and worms, varied in the season by fruit and berries. 



The adult male has a pale buff streak over each eye ; upper parts 

 brown, tinged with chestnut, especially on the rump ; under parts 

 white, turning to buff on the sides, thighs, and under tail-coverts. 

 In autumn the chestnut and buff are much stronger. Bill horn- 

 brown above, yellowish-brown below ; legs and feet purplish-brown. 

 Length 5-5 in. ; wing to end of 3rd and longest quill 2-5 in. The 

 female, according to my experience, is decidedly less rufous during 

 the breeding-season. The young are very tawny underneath. 



