SYLVIA.] AVES INSESSORES. 107 



of that of other birds ; kept up unceasingly during the breeding season, 

 and often heard in the night. Nest generally suspended between the 

 stems of reeds at a little distance from the ground ; composed of dried 

 stalks, with the addition of a little moss, and lined with hair and the finer 

 grasses. Eggs five or six in number ; hatched towards the end of May, 

 or beginning of June. 



50. S. arundinacea, Lath. (Reed-Wren.) Upper 

 parts plain olivaceous brown, without spots : between the 

 bill and the eye a white streak. 



S. arundinacea, Temm. Man. d"0rn. torn. i. p. 191. Reed-Wren, 

 Mont. Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 203. pi. 45**. f. 3. 



DIMENS. Entire length five inches four lines : length of the bill (from 

 the forehead) five lines and a half, (from the gape) eight lines ; of the 

 tarsus ten lines ; of the tail two inches three lines ; from the carpus to 

 the end of the wing two inches four lines : breadth, wings extended, seven 

 inches five lines. 



DESCRIPT. Upper parts of a plain uniform olive brown without spots ; 

 rump and tail faintly tinged with reddish : quills brown with cinereous 

 edges : between the bill and the eye a narrow white streak, but not con- 

 tinued above the eye as in the last species : under parts yellowish white, 

 lightest on the throat and down the middle of the belly ; sides inclining 

 to rufous : bill broader throughout, but especially at the base, and also 

 somewhat longer, than in the S. Phragmitis ; in colour dusky above, 

 yellowish beneath, and along the margin of the upper mandible : irides 

 light hazel: feet pale brown; soles yellow. (Egg.) Greenish white, 

 spotted and speckled with ash-green and light brown ; the markings 

 darkest, and most numerous at the larger end: long, diara. nine lines; 

 trans, diam. six lines and a half. 



Found in the same situations with the last species, but is much less 

 plentiful, and not so generally diffused. Habits similar. Food the smaller 

 species of libellulce, and other insects. Nest of an oblong panier-shaped 

 form, suspended like that of the S. Phragmitis; composed of grasses and 

 the seed-branches of the reed. Eggs four or five in number. 



(4.) S. Cetti, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 194. 



According to Temminck, this species has been killed in England. It 

 does not, however, appear to be known to pur own naturalists, nor am I 

 aware that it is to be found in any of our British collections. 



(4. PHILOMELA, Swains.) 



51. S. Luscinia, Lath. (Nightingale.) Upper plumage 

 reddish brown ; beneath, cinereous white. 



S. Luscinia, Temm. Man. d*Orn. torn. i. p. 195. Nightingale, Mont. 

 Orn. Diet, and Supp. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 206. pi. 46. f. 1. 

 Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 231. 



DIMENS. Entire length six inches two lines : length of the bill (from 

 the forehead) six lines, (from the gape) nine lines and a half; of the 

 tarsus one inch one line ; of the tail two inches eight lines ; from the 

 carpus to the end of the wing three inches two lines : breadth, wing 

 extended, nine inches seven lines. 



