302 SYLVIAIM:. 



wing from the anterior bend to the end of the longest 

 quill-feather, four inches ; the upper mandible dark brown, 

 under mandible lighter brown at the point, the base yellow ; 

 irides brown ; a pale yellow brown line over the eye ; top 

 of the head, neck and back, wings and upper tail-coverts 

 uniform light brown ; primaries, secondaries, and tail- 

 feathers darker brown, with lighter brown edges ; the tail 

 graduated, the central pair of feathers nearly half an inch 

 longer than each outside tail-feather. Chin, neck in front, 

 and the breast, white ; under surface of the wings, sides of 

 the body, abdomen, and under tail-coverts, delicate fawn 

 colour ; legs light brown ; toes and claws darker brown. 

 Of the wings, the first quill -feather very small ; the second 

 and third nearly equal in length, and the longest in the 

 wing : under surface of tail-feathers greyish brown, the 

 shafts white. 



Referring to M. Temminck and other continental 

 authorities, it is stated that this bird, coming about the 

 middle of April, is abundant in the marshes of Holland, 

 frequenting those banks, near water, which are overgrown 

 with reeds and rushes. It visits Belgium and the low 

 flat lands of France, even as near us as Calais. It is 

 found in Germany, Dalmatia, and Tripoli. According to 

 M. Savi, it leaves Tuscany in October, and is found in 

 Sicily. Specimens have been received from Bengal and 

 Borneo. M. Temminck notices that skins sent him from 

 Japan exactly resemble those obtained in Holland. 



The very loud notes of this bird sometimes betray 

 himself and his nest ; his song, however, is said not to 

 be heard when his nesting propensities are terminated. 



Both the nest and the egg are figured by Dr. H. R. 

 Schinz in his work on the eggs and nests of the more 

 remarkable birds of Switzerland and Germany, published 

 at Zurich in 1819, Plate 25. 



