283 



Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hants, Wilts, and Worcester. Possibly it also 

 breeds in Norfolk, and it will probably be recorded sooner or later from 

 Dorset and Berks. 



On the Continent it is pretty generally distributed in suitable localities Con- 

 south of the Baltic, but it not numerous in Denmark. In Russia its northern '"*'" ^ 



■ ±iurope. 



limit extends to Reval in Ehstland, and the Governments of Twer. Jaroslaw, 

 Kazan and Orenburg. It is known to breed in France south to the Pyrenees, 

 but the evidence as to its status in the Iberian peninsula is very conflicting. 

 There are however three clutches of eggs from the Malaga district in the 

 British Museum, one of which was obtained from H. Saunders; although 

 in his Manual he says that as yet no specimens are forthcoming from 

 the Spanish Peninsula, contradicting statements in the Ihis, 1871, p. 215 

 and Dresser's Birds of Europe. It is scarce in S. and Middle Italy, rare 

 on passage in Sardinia and absent from Corsica, while in the Balkan 

 Peninsula although it breeds plentifully as far south as Macedonia it is 

 still not definitely recorded from Greece. It is rare in the Caucasus, but 

 apparently is found in Transcaucasia and also in the Volga delta. [Recently 

 Schmitz reports having taken the nest in Palestine, and Loche met with 

 it in Algeria, where it may breed, though proof of this is still lacking.] 



The favourite haunts of this species are osier beds, and swampy Nest. 

 ground overgrown with rank vegetation, such as meadow sweet (Epi- 

 lohium), or nettles, and bushes, but it is by no means confined to such 

 spots and may also be found breeding in hedge bottoms, dry ditches, etc., 

 at the edges of fields at a considerable distance from water. The nest 

 somewhat resembles that of the Warblers in appearance and is shallower 

 than those of the other Acrocephali, but is recognizable by the 'basket 

 handles' by which it is attached to the stems of the surrounding vege- 

 tation. It is generally from 2 to 4 ft. above the ground, and is built of 

 dry grasses, lined with fine rootlets and a few horsehairs. The diameter 

 of the cup is about 2 — 21 in., and the depth about 2 in. The cock 

 usually sings in the neighbourhood of the nest till the work of building 

 begins, when the song almost ceases for a time. 



Although it has been stated that the number varies from 5 to 7, ^«s*- 

 all the authentic records with which I am acquainted agree in placing 

 it at 4 to 6. The bluish or greenish or greenish white ground is more 

 conspicuous than in typical Reed Warblers' eggs, and the markings are 

 more scanty and bolder, and consist of irregular spots and blotches of 

 olive brown and underlying violet grey, with ocasional small spots or 

 streaks of almost black. Characteristic fine specks of olive brown are 

 also nearly always present. 



In the south of England most eggs are laid during the second or Breeding. 

 third week in June, while in Switzerland Bau says that the usual date '^^''""'- 



