ACROCEPHALUS SCHCENOB^NUS 117 



like that of the Sedge-Warbler, is placed in a low bush or among 

 herbage, and is composed of fine grasses, neatly woven together, and 

 lined with a little hair or vegetable-down. The eggs, four or five 

 in number, resemble those of the above species, but are slightly 

 smaller. 



ACROCEPHALUS SCHffiNOBiENUS (Linutcus). 

 SEDGE-WARBLEE. 



Motacilla schoenobaenus, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 329 (1766). 

 Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Neivton's ed. Yarr. Birds, i, p. 376 (1873). 

 Acrocephalus phragmitis, Sccbohm, Gat. Birds Brit. Mus. v, p. 91 ; 



Whilaiccr, Ibis, 1896, p. 93. 

 Calamodyta phragaiitis, Lochc, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 262 (1867) ; 



Kocuig, J.f. 0. 1883, p. 192; id. J.f. 0. 1892, p. 391. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Source Trois Palmiers, Central 



Tunisia. 



Forehead and crown blackish-brown, slightly striated with olive-brovf n ; 

 broad superciliary stripu pale buff; lores and ear-coverts brown; nape and 

 back olive-brown, the latter having the feathers with black centres ; rump 

 and upper tail-coverts yellowish-brown ; wings and tail brown, the secondaries 

 and upper wing-coverts broadly margined with greyish-buff; entire under- 

 parts buffy-white, becoming rather darker on the flanks. 



Iris hazel ; bill and feet greenish-brown. 



Total length 5 inches, wing 2-65, eulmen '55, tarsus -80. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather duller in colouring. 



The Sedge-Warbler is not uncommon in Tunisia, particularly 

 during the spring migration, and from the fact of its occurring 

 throughout the month of May in many parts of the north of the 

 liegency there can be but little doubt that it breeds there. The 

 species seems to occur in suitable localities throughout North-west 

 Africa generally, during the spring, and Loche alludes to its nest- 

 ing in Algeria. From Tripoli I have examples of it which were 

 obtained at Ziegen on the 15th of May. 



In North Tunisia I obtained the species in the neighbourhood of 

 Ghardimaou and on the Medjerdali Eiver during the mouth of May, 

 and at El-Madjen el- Abbes and on the banks of the Gafsa liiver respec- 

 tively in Central and Southern Tunisia I found it plentiful in April. 



