92 BIEDS OF EGYPT, 



40. Calamodyta aquatica (Lath.). Aquatic Warbler. 



According to Von Heuglin (Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 292) this 

 species is sometimes common, in company with the Sedge 

 Warbler, in Lower Egypt. I myself have never observed 

 it, but have constantly shot C. melanopogon, a bii'd of which 

 Von Heuglin makes no mention as being found in North-east 

 Africa, from which circumstance I conclude that he has con- 

 founded it with some other species, possibly the present one, 

 for no collector could have failed to meet with that bird. 

 I brought home from my last tour no less than fourteen 

 specimens of C. melanopogon, shot near Damietta during 

 the last week in March, but never met with the present 

 species, although I see no reason why it should not be 

 found there. 



Top of the head deep brown, with broad distinct buff- 

 coloured eyebrows and a band of the same colour down the 

 centre of the crown ; back and scapulars ashy, shaded with 

 yellowish brown on the centre of the back and rump, and 

 mottled with dark brown on the centres of the feathers ; wings 

 and tail dark brown, with paler edges ; underparts creamy 

 white, shaded with brownish yellow on the crop and flanks, 

 where there are a few narrow dark brown streaks down the 

 centres of some of the feathers ; beak brown, shading into 

 yellowish flesh-colour on the lower mandible ; legs yellowish 

 flesh-colour ; irides brown. 



Entire length 4"8 inches ; culmen 0*4 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 2"5 ; tarsus O^S. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 111. 



