350 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



coverts black-brown with very narrow edges and tips ol pale brown ; 

 greater and median coverts as innermost secondaries ; lesser wing- 

 coverts greyish -brown. This plumage is acquired by complete 

 moult in late June to Sept. Summer. — The body -feathers are 

 moulted in April but apparently not wing- or taQ-feathers nor 

 wing-coverts. Plumage much as winter but centre of crown and 

 pale portions of mantle and scapulars more greyish less yellowish ; 

 under-parts paler buff or cream and brown-black streaks on breast 

 and flanks much more prominent and more numerous and apparently 

 never absent. In much worn plumage the upper-parts become 

 less tawny, more greyish-broAvn, with heavy dark streaks, and under- 

 parts become white with dark streaks on upper-breast and flanks 

 very prominent. 



Nestling. — (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. — ^Like adult winter, but edges of feathers of crown 

 and mantle more whitish not so yellowish, and black streaks on 

 mantle perhaps rather more prominent. Apparently without 

 streaks on upper-breast. 



First winter. — Like adult. The juvenile body-plumage is 

 apparently moulted in autumn but no specimens in actual moult 

 have been available. 



Measurements and structure. — ^ wing 62-67 mm., tail 48-51, 

 tarsus 19-22, bill from skull 12-13.5 (12 measured). $ wing 61-64. 

 Primaries : 1st minute, 1-.3 mm. shorter (very exceptionall}'- 1-2 

 longer) than longest primary-covert, 3rd longest, 2nd equal to or 

 1 mm. shorter, 4th 1-3 shorter, 5th 3-6 shorter, 6th 6-9 shorter ; 

 3rd emarginated on outer web ; 2nd with a notch on inner web 

 falling between tips of 6th to 9th primaries. Outer tail-feathers 

 8-10 mtn. shorter than central. Tips of tail-feathers rather more 

 pointed than in Sedge-Warbler. Other structure as Sedge-Warbler. 



Soft parts. — Bill dark brown, basal part of lower mandible 

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



Characters. — No subspecies. Conspicuous pale line down centre 

 of crown distinguishes it from Sedge-Warbler, also streaks on 

 upper-parts always more prominent, ground-colour being paler, 

 and rump is distinctly streaked, while tail-feathers are paler and in 

 summer streaks on breast and flanks prominent. 



Breeding-habits. — Little reliable information : nests in marshes 

 among clumps of sedge or willow bushes, not far from ground. 

 Nest. — Said to be smaller and deeper than Sedge-Warbler's, built 

 of grasses and bents, cobwebs and down, lined generally with 

 horsehair, sometimes feathers. Eggs. — 4 to 6, but little material 

 available. Closely resemble Sedge-Warbler's, pale yellowish, 

 closely freckled with brownish-yellow, sometimes a zone at big end 

 and often a dark hair-streak. Average of 52 eggs, 17.1 X 13 mm. 

 Breeding-season. — Said to be rather earlier than Sedge-Warbler's ; 

 probably mid-May to June. 



