334 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



(occasionally Jan.) but not wing -feathers, primary-coverts or 

 greater wing-coverts. 



Measurements and structures. — o wing 53-59 mm., tail 42-50, 

 tarsus 18-19, bill from skull 10.5-12. $ wing 52-58. Primaries : 

 1st equal to or 1-2 mm. shorter or longer than primary -co verts, 

 3rd longest, 2nd occasionally equal but usually 1-2 mm. shorter, 

 4th 1-3 shorter, 5th 3-5 shorter, 6th 4-7 shorter ; 3rd emarginated 

 outer web. Rest of structure as L. certhiola. 



Soft iMrts. — Bill dark broAMi, inider mandible flesh-brown ; 

 legs and feet i3ale yellowish-flesh ; iris dark brown. 



Characters. — No subspecies. Differs from L. ncevia in being 

 smaller, upper-parts less olive and more broadly streaked, under- 

 parts whiter and more streaked, especially on flanks. 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in marshy spots. Nest. — Well hidden 

 in tussock and invisible from above ; built of dead grasses, and 

 stalks with moss and leaves in foiuidation. Eggs. — 5, pinkish in 

 ground-colour thickly spotted with reddish-bro%\ai and gre}^ shell - 

 marks. Average of 10 eggs, 17.7 X 13.5 mm. Breeding-season. — 

 May and June. 



Food. — Probably insects, but definite information lacking. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Three. Male, North Cotes (Lines.), 

 Nov. 18, 1909 {ut supra) ; one Pentland Skerries (Orkneys), 

 Oct. 26, 1910; and one Fair Isle, Sept. 9, 1908 (W. E. Clarke, 

 Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1911, p. 71.) 



Distribution. — Abroad. — From Kamtschatka and north Japan to 

 west Siberia, rare in Russia (Onega R.), wintering in south China, 

 Borneo, Andamans, Burma and India. Accidental Heligoland ami 

 Dalmatia. 



Genus ACROCEPHALUS Naum. 



AcKOCEPHALUS Navimann, Naturg. Land.-u. Wasserv. Deutschl., Nach- 

 trag IV, p. 199 (1811 — Type by subsequent designation : A. arundinaceiis). 



Containing Reed-, Marsh-, Sedge-, and Aquatic Warblers, 

 which have been split up into a number of genera, but by no means 

 consistently. Bill varies from a somewhat broad and depressed 

 one to a narrow one resembling that of a slender-billed Sylvia. 

 A few, but distinct and fairly strong, rictal bristles. 1st primary 

 narrow, stiff, and short, rarely longer than primary -co verts. Tail 

 of 12 rectrices, well rounded or slightly graduated. Tarsus long, 

 front generally divided into long scutes, but in old individuals of 

 most species fused, except at base. Sexes alike, j^oung not con- 

 spicuously different. Nests open, in most cases suspended on 

 upright stems of reeds or bushes. Eggs spotted. Insectivorous, 

 Double moult. Old World, wanting in America. 



