34 BRITISH BIRDS 
The marsh-warbler lacks this rufous tinge. Under-parts of 
both species are greyish or rufous-buff, except the throat and 
belly which are white. Wing quills and tail greyish-brown 
with olive-brown margins. Fledglings more rufous. 
Nest. The reed-warbler’s nest is usually attached to the | 
stems of reeds over water, in which it differs from the marsh- 
warbler’s, but, like the latter, may also be found in rank vege- 
tation, osiers and other trees, even at some distance from water. 
The nest isdeep. Material various: grasses, reed-flowers, wool, 
&c., lined with the same or feathers and hair. The marsh- 
warbler’s nest, placed usually among mixed herbage, meadow- 
sweet, willow-herb, willows, osiers, and the like, is not nearly so 
deep as the reed-warbler’s, or compact. The “main attachment 
is to two or three, generally two, large stems ; that part of the 
upper rim of the nest which passes round these stems is stretched 
and separated from the main rim of the nest. The loops thus 
formed have been most aptly described by Mr. Warde Fowler as 
‘basket-handles’” (W. Farren). Material : green stems and the 
like with a little moss, wool, &c., lined with hair and rootlets. 
Eggs. Those of the reed-warbler number usually 4-5 and 
are greenish-white, thickly blotched, and marbled with olive- 
brown and ashy-grey, with occasional blackish spots. Occa- 
sionally white. The marsh-warbler’s eggs—usually 4-5—have 
“a bluish or greenish-white ground, boldly blotched with olive 
and violet-grey, and numerous fine olive specks, as well as a 
few blackish markings” (Jourdain). Avy. size, practically the 
same for both species : reed-warbler °71 x °53 in. ; marsh-warbler 
‘74x °53in. The reed-warbler begins laying in May—June ; the 
marsh-warbler in June. One brood is usual. 
62. Marsh- warbler [Acrocephalus palustris (Bechstein)]. 
Summer visitor to south and mid England. Local, but may be 
more plentiful than thought. 
Bird. Uength 54in. See Reed-warbler (No. 61). 
Nest. See Reed-warbler (No. 61). 
Eggs. See Reed-warbler (No. 61). 
63. Sedge-warbler [Acrocepnalus schenobenus (Linneeus) ; 
Acrocephalus phragmitis (Bechstein)]. Summer visitor. Rare 
in north Scotland. Bird of passage. 
Bird (Fig. 37). Length 5 in. Recognised by the conspicuous 
buff eye-stripe, black stripes on the russet head and back, and 
the markedly rufous or rust-brown rump. Under-parts whitish 
with buff on neck and forebreast, brownish on flanks. Wings 
and tail dark brown with paler brown edgings. 
Nest. Place: in mixed herbage, bushes, hedges, usually near 
water or marshy ground. Material: grasses, moss, &., lined 
usually with hair, also with feathers and other soft material. 
