THE EASTERN GREAT REED-WARBLER. 337 



occasionally from low tree near reeds, is very loud and guttural 

 and almost frog-like " karra, karra, karra, keek " (H.F.W.). 



BREEDING-HABITS. Usually found in reed-beds or sallow bushes 

 mixed with reeds. Nest. Built round reed-stems growing in 

 water or among branches of sallows at varying heights, often 2 to 

 4 ft. from water but exceptionally as much as 8 ft. above it. Like 

 Keed-Warbler's but much larger, built of reed and sedge leaves, 

 roots, etc., lined reed flowers, down, occasionally hairs or feathers, 

 with deep cup. Eggs. 4 to 6, ground bluish or greenish, boldly 

 blotched with dark umber or blackish and ashy shell -marks. 

 Average of 100 eggs, 22.5 x 16.2 mm Nesting-season. From mid- 

 May in south Europe and about second week in June in central 

 Europe. Incubation. About 14 days. One brood. 



FOOD. Marsh-haunting insects and their larvae : coleoptera 

 (especially Donacia), neuroptera (Odonata, Perlidae, Ephemeridse, 

 etc.) and diptera. Also aphides, spiders (up to great size according 

 to Lynes), and jelly-like substance, probably eggs of Limncea 

 stagnalis (Saxby). Said also to take elder and other berries in 

 autumn (Naumann). 



DISTRIBUTION. England. About ten authentic occurrences besides 

 other unsubstantiated records. Near Newcastle (Durham), May 

 28, 1847 ; Sittingbourne, May 4, 1853, and Wingham (Kent), Sept. 

 14, 1881 ; Godalming (Surrey), spring, 1858 ; Ellesmere (Salop), 

 about 1886; one heard Tetney (Lines.), July 28th, 1897: 

 Kingwood, June 3, 1884, and Christcburch (Hants.), May 10, 1900 ; 

 St. Leonards, Sept. 25, 1903, and Sept. 12, 1906, and Bexhill 

 (Sussex), May 1, 1905 ; one seen Horning (Norfolk), Aug. 1906. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Middle and south Europe to north-west 

 Africa, eastwards at least to the Ural and (locally) west Siberia, 

 north to Baltic and Russian Baltic provinces, rare visitor to south 

 Sweden. Winters in tropical Africa south to Natal ; in Persia on 

 migration. Accidental Canaries. Replaced by another race from 

 Volga delta eastward to Transcaspia and Turkestan and by A. a. 

 orientalis in south-east Siberia, north China, Japan, and Corea. 



142. Acrocephalus arundinaceus orientalis (Temm. & Schleg.) 

 THE EASTERN GREAT REED-WARBLER. 



SALICABIA TURDINA ORIENTALIS Temminek & Schlegel, Siebold's Fauna 

 Japon., Aves, p. 50, pi. xx B (1847 Japan, Borneo, Celebes, Sumatra). 

 Acrocephalus arundinaceus orientalis, J. B. Nichols, Brit. B., x, p. 254. 



DESCRIPTION. Adult male and female. Winter and summer. 

 Like A. a. arundinaceus and not to be distinguished by colora- 

 tion. Complete moult July-December. Spring moult Feb.-April 



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