blyth's reed-warbler, 345 



darker, more earthy-brown and less olivaceous on upper -parts, but 

 often no distinguishable difference. (Some undoubted adults are 

 inclined to be rich brown with a rufous tinge as in adult Reed- 

 Warbler but are usuaUy somewhat darker.) Under -parts inter- 

 mediate between A. scirpaceus and A. palustris ; edges and tips of 

 wing-feathers not so pale as in A. palustris. This plumage is 

 acquired by complete moult July-No v. Summer. — The body- 

 feathers, usually lesser and median wing-coverts and occasionally 

 some greater wing -coverts and the innermost secondary are moulted 

 Feb. -April. New plumage of upper-parts more olivaceous earth- 

 brown, not such a rich brown, as in winter. When worn becomes 

 paler earth-brown, but is always darker than Marsh-Warbler and 

 without rusty-tinge of Reed-Warbler. 



Nestling. — (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. — Upper- and under-parts much like adult winter 

 Reed-Warbler ; fringes of wing- and tail-feathers and upper tail- 

 coverts especially of a decided rustj^ tinge. Not so rufous as 

 juvenile or first winter Reed-Warbler. 



First winter. — As adult but rusty fringes of wing- and tail- 

 feathers distinguish it. The juvenile body-feathers, lesser, median 

 and greater wing-coverts and innermost secondaries are moulted 

 Aug. -Sept., but not rest of wings or tail. 



Measurements and structure. — ^ wing 61-65 mm., tail 49-55, 

 tarsus 20-24, bill from skull 15-16.5 (12 measured). $ wing 59-64. 

 Primaries : 1st equal to, or 1-2 mm. shorter or 1-3 longer than, 

 primary-coverts, 3rd and 4th longest (4th very rarely 1 mm. shorter), 

 2nd 3-5 shorter (sometimes equal to 5th, usuaUy between 5th and 

 7th, occasionally equal to 7th) 5th .5-2 shorter (occasionally equal 

 to 3rd), 6th 2-5.5 shorter ; 3rd and 4th emarginated outer webs, 

 5th sometimes also emarginated ; 2nd with a notch on inner web 

 falling short of tips of secondaries, 3rd usually with a less distinct 

 notch falling between tips of 8th primary and secondaries. Outer 

 tail-feathers 4-9 mm. shorter than central. Tips of tail-feathers 

 inclined to be pointed. Bill rather wider at base than either 

 A. s. scirpaceus or A. palustris, tip compressed and thin. Other- 

 wise structure as .4. a. arundinaceus . 



Soft parts. — Bill : upper-mandible dark browai, lower-mandible 

 flesh ; legs and feet brownish-flesh ; iris pale brown. 



Characters. — No subspecies. Upper-parts usually darker and 

 more earth-brown and not so rusty as in A. s. scirpaceus nor so 

 olivaceous as A. palustris, differing from both in details of wing- 

 formula and emargination of primaries. 



Breeding-habits. — Accounts rather contradictory : in India said 

 to build domed nest of grasses in thick bushes, but in Russia 

 described as building nest much like Marsh -Warbler's, but lined 

 hair. Eggs. — 4-5, occasionally 6. Variable : some pink ground, 



