350 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



coverts black-brown with very narrow edges and tips ot pale brown ; 

 greater and median coverts as innermost secondaries ; lesser wing- 

 coverts greyish -bro wn . This plumage is acquired by complete 

 moult in late June to Sept. Summer. The body -feathers are 

 moulted in April but apparently not wing- or tail-feathers nor 

 wing-coverts. Plumage much as winter but centre of crown and 

 pale portions of mantle and scapulars more greyish less yellowish ; 

 under-parts paler buff or cream and brown-black streaks on breast 

 and flanks much more prominent and more numerous and apparently 

 never absent. In much worn plumage the upper-parts become 

 less tawny, more greyish-brown, with heavy dark streaks, and under- 

 parts become white with dark streaks on upper-breast and flanks 

 very prominent. 



Nestling. (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. Like adult winter, but edges of feathers of crown 

 and mantle more whitish not so yellowish, and black streaks on 

 mantle perhaps rather more prominent. Apparently without 

 streaks on upper-breast. 



First winter. Like adult. The juvenile body-plumage is 

 apparently moulted in autumn but no specimens in actual moult 

 have been available. 



Measurements and structure. < wing 62-67 mm., tail 48-51, 

 tarsus 19-22, bill from skull 12-13.5 (12 measured). $ wing 61-64. 

 Primaries : 1st minute, 1-3 mm. shorter (very exceptionally 1-2 

 longer) than longest primary-covert, 3rd longest, 2nd equal to or 

 1 mm. shorter, 4th 1-3 shorter, 5th 3-6 shorter, 6th 6-9 shorter ; 

 3rd emarginated on outer web ; 2nd with a notch on inner web 

 falling between tips of 6th to 9th primaries. Outer tail-feathers 

 8-10 mm. shorter than central. Tips of tail-feathers rather more 

 pointed than in Sedge-Warbler. Other structure as Sedge -War bier. 



Soft parts. Bill dark brown, basal part of lower mandible 

 flesh ; legs and feet pale yellowish-flesh ; iris brown. 

 CHARACTERS. No subspecies. Conspicuous pale line down centre 

 of crown distinguishes it from Sedge-Warbler, also streaks on 

 upper-parts always more prominent, ground-colour being paler, 

 and rump is distinctly streaked, while tail-feathers are paler and in 

 summer streaks on breast and flanks prominent. 

 BREEDING-HABITS. Little reliable information : nests in marshes 

 among clumps of sedge or willow bushes, not far from ground. 

 Nest. Said to be smaller and deeper than Sedge-Warbler's, built 

 of grasses and bents, cobwebs and down, lined generally with 

 horsehair, sometimes feathers. Eggs. 4 to 6, but little material 

 available. Closely resemble Sedge-Warbler's, pale yellowish, 

 closely freckled with brownish -yellow, sometimes a zone at big end 

 and often a dark hair-streak. Average of 52 eggs, 17.1 X 13 mm. 

 Breeding-season. Said to be rather earlier than Sedge -War bier's ; 

 probably mid-May to June, 



