342 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — South Sweden and Russian Baltic 

 Provinces to Mediterranean and north-west Africa, wintering in 

 Africa. Accidental Madeira. Replaced by closely-allied form from 

 Lower Volga to Turkestan. 



ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS 



144. Acrocephalus palustris (Bechst.) — THE MARSH- 

 WARBLER. 



Sylvia palustris Bechstein, Orn. Taschenb., p. 186 (1803 — Germany). 

 Acrocephalus palusiria (Bechstein), Yarrell, i, p. 373; m, p. viii ; 

 Saunders, p. 81. 



A. HeeA-W mhler (A. s. scirpaceus). B. Marsh-WsLrhlei {A. palustris). C. Blyth's 



Eeed- Warbler {A. dumetorum). Note differences in relative length of 2nd primaries and 



position of notch on inner web of this primary. 



Description. — Adult male and female. Winter. — Very similar 

 to A. s. scirpaceus but brown of upper-parts more greenish -oliva- 

 ceous and without any rusty tinge, rump and upper tail-coverts 

 paler and more olivaceous than rest of upper -parts but not rust- 

 coloured as in Reed-Warbler ; narrow edgings and tips of wing- 

 feathers rather paler and more olivaceous ; buff of under-parts and 

 especially flanks usually paler and of a more yellowish rather than 

 rusty shade. This plumage is acquired apparently by complete 



