rE ROPE ee eo te 
ACROCEPHALUS ARUNDINACEUS 
Loca names in surrounding counties: ‘ Reedchat ” 
(Essex). 
Status IN British Avirauna: Common yet local 
summer visitor to England, most abundant in the south, 
and rarest in the north and west. 
RapriaL DisTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: Although the Reed Warbler is seen occasionally 
even so close to the city as Battersea Park, I know of no 
summer haunt of this species nearer flan Richmond. 
There are certain breeding-places in the valleys of the 
‘Thames and the Colne within the Metropolitan area, but 
the Reed Warbler does not become in any way common 
until we get a score or so of miles from the city. The 
bird is found in summer at Virginia Water, Betchworth, 
Cobham, and other places, but everywhere it is a local 
one, and one also that may be very easily overlooked. 
It is difficult to explain the bird’s absence from many 
spots that appear to be ideal summer haunts, and in the 
north-east and south-east especially the species is un- 
common. Where found this Warbler is usually abun- 
dant, numbers of pairs living in the same bed of reeds 
or belt of osiers. 
That the Reed Warbler is somewhat capricious in the 
choice of a haunt or seeks localities where some special 
food is abundant seems proved by the fact that it frequents 
many unlikely districts, and continues to visit them after 
they have undergone eonsiGersble change. I know of 
haunts of this Warbler that have been considerably 
curtailed by drainage and building operations still con- 
tinuing to be frequented, and even after most of their 
privacy has been destroyed. On the other hand, I can 
call to mind many more, ideal in every way so far as can 
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