74 MARSH-WARBLER. 



Denmark, and Revel in Esthonia, appear to be the northern limits 

 of the breeding-range of the Marsh-Warbler ; while eastward it ex- 

 tends across Russia to South-western Siberia, Turkestan and Persia ; 

 the bird wintering in many parts of Africa, as far south as Natal. 

 South of the Baltic it is generally distributed in suitable localities 

 throughout Europe, except in the extreme west, respecting which 

 further information is desirable. The ' Verderolle,' as it is appro- 

 priately named in French, undoubtedly breeds as far as a longitu- 

 dinal line drawn through Normandy ; but as yet no specimens are 

 forthcoming from the Spanish Peninsula. In May 1870 I shot, 

 near Aranjuez, a bird, too much shattered for preservation, which I 

 then believed to be a Marsh-AVarbler ; and my friend Mr. Dresser 

 has identified as Marsh-Warblers several specimens now or formerly 

 in my collection, obtained near Malaga ; but with every wish that 

 they should be so, I have always dissented strongly from this view, 

 and consider them to be well-marked Reed-Warblers. 



The Marsh-Warbler does not frequent reeds, but confines itself 

 principally to swampy thickets and osier-beds, where the nest can 

 be reached dry-shod, although the ground may be somewhat moist 

 owing to the vicinity of a stream. The nests never overhang the 

 water, although often close to it, in low bushes, or among the rank 

 meadow-sweet, cow-parsnip and nettles. Those which I have ex- 

 amined were composed of fine round grass-stalks and lined with 

 horsehair. The eggs, 5-7, are much whiter in their ground-colour 

 than those of the Reed- Warbler, with spots and blotches of olive- 

 brown and violet-grey : average measurements 73 by "55 in. Only 

 one brood is reared in the season ; but if the nest be taken, 

 another is soon built, and fresh eggs have been found in the begin- 

 ning of July. The male bird is often conspicuous at some distance 

 from the nest ; not skulking like the Reed-Warbler, but boldly pour- 

 ing out a song far more melodious than that of its congener. Its 

 food is similar to that of the Reed-Warbler. 



The adult is olive-brown above, with a faint bufiish-white streak 

 over the eye; under parts white tinged with sulphur-buff; wing- 

 feathers olive-brown, tipped and margined with pale buff; bill horn- 

 brown above, paler below ; legs and feet brownish flesh-colour. 

 Length 5-5 in. ; wing to the end of the 3rd and longest primary 

 27 in., longer than in the Reed- Warbler. In fresh and fully 

 moulted birds the 2nd quill infinitesimally exceeds the 4th : the 

 reverse being the case with the Reed-Warbler. 



