290 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
apparently the remains of worn plumage ; tail imperfect; the two 
feathers remaining narrowly margined with buffy white on the outer 
web; lores whitish buff extending backwards to a streak over the 
eye, and forming a rather narrow eyebrow; round the eye a ring of 
whitish buff feathers ; plumes in front of the eye dusky ; ear coverts 
brown like the head; throat white, slightly washed on the lower 
part with tawny buff; breast and sides of the body orange tawny, 
paler on the thighs and under tail-coverts; centre of abdomen 
white ; under wing-coverts dull orange tawny; lower surface of 
quills ashy brown, edged with pale tawny buff along the inner webs; 
bill very stout, dark horn-brown in skin, yellow at base of lower 
mandible ; feet fleshy brown in skin. Total length, 69 inches ; 
culmen, 0°75; wing, 3°65; tail, 2°8; tarsus, 1-1. 
274. ACROCEPHALUS BHTICATUS. South-African Reed- Warbler. 
This Reed Warbler is extremely similar in coloration to the Reed 
Wren of Europe, but it is always more rufescent, and from this 
circumstance it received the name of rufescens from Keyserling and 
Blasius. We have no doubt, however, that it is Le Vaillant’s “Isabelle,” 
and it therefore must be called Acrocephalus beticatus Vieill. It 
may also be distinguished from its European ally by the proportions 
of the quills; the second primary being about equal to the seventh 
or eighth, and the third and fourth about equal. In A. streperus, 
the second primary is about equal to the fourth, and the third is 
longest of all. It is very common about the reed beds along the 
banks of rivers in the Karroo, and about Nel’s Poort. We have 
received it from Mr. Atmore from Swellendam, and haye found it 
ourselves at Zoetendal’s Vley, Graham’s Town, and other places. It 
is a noisy bird, continually uttering a stridulous cry of ‘ cur-cur- 
crak-crak.’? It forms a nest between reeds and rushes, of wool and 
straw, in the shape of a cone. The eggs, usually three, are white, 
spotted throughout, but chiefly at the obtuse end with various sized’ 
brown and light purple, irregular dots and blotches. Axis, 8” ; 
diam. 6”. Some eggs are more covered than others, and Le Vail- 
lant’s statement that the eggs are spotless, may perhaps be occa- 
sionally correct. Mr. H. Jackson writes us that he has found the 
nest in December. We took it in September. Mr. Ortlepp notices 
it at Colesberg, breeding in gardens in rose hedges, and along the 
river banks in reeds. 
