342 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. South Sweden and Russian Baltic 

 Provinces to Mediterranean and north-west Africa, wintering in 

 Africa. Accidental Madeira. Replaced by closely -allied form from 

 Lower Volga to Turkestan. 



ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS 



144. Acrocephalus palustris (Bechst.) THE MARSH- 

 WARBLER. 



SYLVIA PALUSTRIS Bechstein, On. Tascfcenb., p. 186 (1803 Germany). 

 Acrocephalus palustris (Bechstein), Yarrell, i, p. 373 ; ill, p. viii ; 

 Saunders, p. 81. 



c 4 



A. Eeed- War bier (A. s. sdrpaceus). B. Marsh- Warbler (A. palustris). C. Blyth's 



Eeed- Warbler (A. dumetorum). Note differences in relative length of 2nd primaries and 



position of notch on inner web of this primary. 



DESCRIPTION. Adult male and female. Winter. Very similar 

 to A. s. sdrpaceus but brown of upper-parts more greenish -oliva- 

 ceous and without any rusty tinge, rump and upper tail-coverts 

 paler and more olivaceous than rest of upper-parts but not rust- 

 coloured as in Reed-Warbler ; narrow edgings and tips of wing- 

 feathers rather paler and more olivaceous ; buff of under-parts and 

 especially flanks usually paler and of a more yellowish rather than 

 rusty shade. This plumage is acquired apparently by complete 



