277 



Breeding Range: Onega R., N. Russia (Meves). Has occurred 

 near Cattaro, Nov. 1907. [Also Siberia from Tomsk to Kamtschatka, 

 N. Yezo, Saghalin and the Kuriles.] 



The only instance in which this bird has been obtained in Europe 

 during the breeding season took place on July 9, 1869 near Possad on 

 the R. Onega, M^hen Meves shot a singing male bird. When Pleske's 

 account of its distribution (Ornithogrciphia Eossica, p. 629) was written, 

 it was not known to breed W. of Kultuk, near L. Baikal, but has now 

 been recorded from Tomsk by Johansen and has probably been over- 

 looked. 



After arriving in its breeding haunts about mid June, the male Neat. 

 'reels' nearly all day. The nest is built in marshy places, on a moss 

 hillock overgrown by coarse grass and sheltered from above by a grass 

 tussock. It is well concealed and as the bird sits close, is very hard to 

 find. The materials used are dry grasses and stalks as a rule, but leaves 

 of Vaccinmm or Moss may be used in the exterior. Outer diameter, 

 3i in., cup 21 in., broad and If in. deep. 



Eggs 5, thickly marked with reddish brown on a rosy ground with ^^s'- 

 grey shell markings, especially towards the big end. They are laid to- 

 wards the end of June. 



Average size of 4 eggs taken by Dybowski, 17.4x12.95, Max. M««'"re- 

 17.8 X 13: Min. 17 X 13 and 17.4 X 12.8. A clutch of 6 eggs from '°'°*'' 

 the Baikal district taken by Ruckbeil, and ascribed to this bird, are 

 slightly larger, averaging 17.9 X 13.8, but can only belong to this species 

 or L. fasciolata (Gray). One egg weighs 90 mg. (Rej). 



130. Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus (L.). 



Geographical Races. 



a. European Great Reed Warbler, A. arnndinaceus arandinaceus (L.). 



Plate 29, fig. 9—13 (Germany). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl. Tab. XXI, fig. 5, a— c. Baedeker, 

 Tab. 19, fig. 10. Hewitson, III Ed. I, pi. XXXII, fig. 3, 4. Taczanowski, 

 Tab. XLIII, fig. 1. Seebohm, Br. Birds, pi. 10; id. Col. Fig. pi. 52. 

 Howard, Br. Warblers, pi. I, fig. 25—34. Dresser, pi. — , fig. 43—46. 

 Nest: R. B. Lodge, Pictures of Bird Life., p. 227. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Rdkosnik velkij Denmark: Ro'rdrossel. 

 France: RousseroUe. Germany: Drossel-Rohrsdnger. Holland: Groote 

 Karakiet, Rietlijder. Hungary: Nddirigo. Italy: Cannareccioiw. Poland: 

 Trzciniak diozdowka. Portugal: Chinchafoes. Russia: Trostjanoidrosd. 

 Spain: Carrizalero. Sweden: Trastsdngare. 



