522 



PANURID.E. 



colour, which extends across the breast, passing into pale 

 tawny on the lower wing-coverts, belly and vent ; the flanks 

 deep orange-tawny ; lower tail-coverts black : legs, toes and 

 claws, black. 



The length is rather more than six inches, of which the 

 tail is about half. From the carpal joint to the tip of the 

 wing two inches and one-quarter. Dutch specimens are 

 said to be rather larger than those from England. 



In the old female the top of the head is dull brownish- 

 fawn, the lores and mystacial tufts are of a paler shade of 

 the same colour, the chin and throat are suffused with pale 

 brown, the rose-colour of the breast is less conspicuous, and 

 the lower tail-coverts are pale orange-tawny : in other respects 

 she resembles the male, but her tints are less bright. 



The young of the year resemble the adult female, but 

 they have the crown of the head and the middle of the back 

 striped with black, and the bill is yellowish-brown. 



In young birds from the nest, as figured below, the back, 

 wings and tail, except the middle feathers, are patched with 

 black ; the tertials want the broad white inner webs ; the rest 

 of the body is pale fawn, the bill brownish horn-colour, the 

 legs light brown ; but even at this age the males have the 

 lores black. 



The name by which this species is commonly known in the 

 districts it frequents is Reed-Pheasant. Reedling, used for 

 it by several authors, would certainly be preferable to Tit- 

 mouse, had not some of the aquatic Warblers been also so 

 called. 



' ii^0. ' 



