EEED WAEBLER MAESH WAEBLEE. 61 



find a Cuckoo's egg in it. In the north o£ the county it is 

 rare, but I have observed it in the large bed of rushes at the 

 upper end of Clattercote Reservoir, and in an osier-bed at the 

 mouth of the Swere. 



Found usually only where a thick growth of reeds and 

 rushes affords it congenial shelter, it occasionally wanders from 

 its usual haunts, and a bird 'sang away all the Summer Term 

 of 1884 in the bushes behind the Museum, nearly half a mile 

 from the river, and probably built a nest among the lilac 

 bushes which there abound/ [A Year with the Birds, p. 34.) 

 The nest of this species is a most beautiful basket-like struc- 

 ture, suspended between the upright stems of three or more 

 reeds or twigs, and formed mainly of the uj)per portions of 

 reeds or of long grasses wound round so as to include the 

 supports in the walls of the nest ; it is very deep m proportion 

 to its width. 



Being a shy bird, the Reed Warbler is more often heard 

 than seen. Its song resembles to some extent that of the 

 Sedge Warbler, from which, however, it is easily distinguished. 

 Delivered in a more leisurely fashion, and in a lower tone, it 

 has greater sweetness and more melody, and wants the harsh 

 chattering notes of the Sedge-bird ; the opening notes of the 

 song churra churra churra are quite characteristic. 



THE MARSH WARBLER. 



Acrocephahis pcdustris. 

 The Marsh Warbler, which has of late years been proved to 

 be a rare summer migrant to some parts of England, has 

 visited Oxfordshire in one year at least, a nest and eggs 

 presented to the British Museum by Mr. B. M. Davies, of 

 Broughton Grange, having been taken near that place in 1886. 

 In reply to my enquiries Mr, Davies informs me that the nest 

 was found in a withy bed, ' fastened in what I believe is the 

 usual manner between some reeds.' He adds, ' I am sorry I 

 cannot give you the date, but I have little doubt that it was 



