116 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



ACROCEPHALUS AQUATICUS (Gmelin). 

 AQUATIC WARBLER. 



Motacilla aquatica, Gmdin, Syst. Nat. i, p. 953 (1788). 



Acrocephalus aquaticus, Newton's ed. Yarr. Birds, i, p. 380 (1873) ; 



Scebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. v, p. 89. 

 Calamodyta aquatica, Lnchc, Erpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 263 (1867); 



Kocniy, J.f. 0. 1892, p. 392. 



Description. —KAwM male, spring, from Medjerdah River, North Tunisia. 



Forehead rufons-huff ; lores and ear-coverts greyish-brown ; crown 

 blackish, with a broad median and superciliary stripes yellowish-buff ; nape 

 and back preyish-buff, broadly striped with black ; rump rufous-buff, slightly 

 striped with black; wings and tail brown, margined with tawny-buff; 

 underparts pale yellowish-buff, lighter on the chin and darker on the 

 flanks. 



Iris dark brown ; bill dark brown ; feet yellowish-brown. 



Total length 4'50 inches, wing 2 '45, culmen -35, tarsus -75. 



Adult female similar to the male. 



The Aquatic Warbler appears to be rather uncommon in Tunisia, 

 but I have obtained examples of it from the ])anks of the Medjerdah 

 River, and the species probably occurs throughout the better watered 

 districts of the Begency generally as a summer migrant. Owing to 

 its resemblance to the Sedge-AVarbler the present species has no 

 doubt often been confused with that bird, and examples of it may 

 have escaped notice. A comparison of the two, however, will at once 

 show bow they differ, the central buff stripe on the crown of the 

 present species, and its somewhat smaller size, being very distinctive 

 characters. 



In its habits it resembles the Sedge-Warbler to a considerable 

 extent, being of a shy and skulking nature, and seeking seclusion in 

 dense aquatic vegetation, through which it threads its way with the 

 utmost facility. Its song is considered by authorities to be inferior 

 to that of the Sedge- Warbler. Its diet consists chiefly of insects and 

 worms. 



The Aquatic Warbler probably breeds in suitable localities in the 

 Regency. Both Canon Tristram and Mr. 0. Salvin appear to have met 

 with it nesting in Algeria, where the species is not uncommon. Mr. 

 C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake obtained it in Marocco in spring. From 

 Tripoli I have no note of its occurrence. The nest of this species, 



