t922.i the Birds of Simt. 549 



waters where reeds grow or, failing these, where tamarisks 

 grow in water^ this bird compels notice on account of its loud 

 croaking note, even if the bird itself does not afford more 

 than a glimpse. Tt is mostly a winter visitoi-, partly also a 

 resident, and in tlio dry corner round Karachi it is a passage 

 migrant. Dealing with the latter status first, passage 

 migrants may be seen from the first week in September 

 onwards, never very many, and at these times I have found 

 them in quite dry situations, such as in tall acacias in 

 cultivation or tall "jowari" crops ; they pass through again 

 from mid-April, and the latest I have seen them is 2 May. 

 Probably these passage periods correspond to the times of 

 arrival and departure of the winter visitors elsewhere. 



Doig (S. F. ix. p. 279) was the first to record that, at all 

 events in the E. Narra District, this Reed-Warbler was 

 resident and bred in August (see ' Nest & Eggs,' i. p. 225). 



I see no reason why this bird should not breed in anv 

 swamp or jheel which has permanent water and reeds, such 

 as at the Manchar Lake, but though constantly on the 

 look out for old nests in the cold weather, I never came across 

 one ; many places which in winter seem suitable breeding 

 [)laces are in August ^\Yy or only recently flooded. I could 

 never make out whether this bird bred in the mauorove 

 swamps of Karachi Harbour or not ; Mr. Bell states that he 

 has heard its well-known note there duiing the months of 

 July, August, and September, and he thought it doubtless 

 bred there ; in another year he heard them in April and 

 May, and searched the mangroves on 19 May for a nest, 

 fruitlessly however. I have struggled through these man- 

 grove forests at all times of the year, probably more than 

 anyone, and the only indication I had of this l)ird's presence 

 was on 17 and 18 July, 1918, when a single bird was 

 undoubtedly singing there ; on subsequent visits it was neither 

 seen nor heard. It may be that it breeds there in some years 

 and not others, or perhaps it used to breed there ; of recent 

 years this forest has been much cut down for camel fodder. 

 It is known to breed in the mangrove forests of the J\leki"au 

 coast. 



