THE WARBLERS 



1673 



and with elongated shafts. Moreover, there are no hairs or bristles on the forehead, 

 with the exception of the ordinary ones at the rictus of the gape. In this particular 

 genus of the group, displaying .the above characteristics, the first primary quill of 

 the wing is much less than one-third the length of the second, while the rictal 

 bristles are strongly developed, and the tail is but slightly graduated. The reed 

 warbler (Acrocephahis streperus) is an annual visitor to most parts of temperate 

 Europe, arriving in April and May, and generally taking up its abode in extensive 

 morasses. The nest is a singularly beautiful structure, built in the middle of a wood 

 a long way from water; one which we found w r as composed of delicate green moss, 

 while another from Romney Marsh was almost wholly constructed of sheep's wooh 



THE REED WARBLER. 



The eggs are greenish white in ground color, clouded or freckled with dark olive. 

 The song of this warbler is rich and much varied. The adult male in spring has the 

 upper parts rufous brown, the color being most pronounced upon the rump and 

 upper tail coverts, while the chin and throat are dull white, and the breast and 

 flanks pale buff. 



The sedge warbler (A. schcenobcenus) , shown on the left figure on p. 1676, is 

 common in many parts of Europe, arriving in April from North Africa, and speedily 

 taking up its residence in some suitable haunt, generally a scrub near the waterside. 

 It generally departs again for the south in September, wintering in Africa. Its 

 song is loud and varied, and often delivered during the stillness of a summer night. 



