THE REED-WARBLERS. 233 



thirds of the extent of the tail, so as to be almost level with the out- 

 stretched feet ; whereas in A. streperus the wing is much shorter, 

 only reaching about half the extent of the tail, and falling far 

 short of the outstretched feet. These characters depend much 

 upon the preparation of the skins ; but we have compared only 

 those which seem to have their natural proportions preserved. 

 The colour of the legs, said to be different in life, is not visible 

 in the dried skin, and the character which seems to us to be the 

 most constant is the olive-colour of the upper-parts in A.palustris 

 and the want of the rufous shade on the lower back and rump. 

 Many specimens presented to the British Museum as Marsh- 

 Warblers seem to us to be only Reed- Warblers after all. ( Cf. 

 also Saunders, Man., p. 93). Total length of A. palustris, 5-5 

 inches ; wing, 2-9. The proportions of the quills are the same in 

 both species, the bastard-primary not reaching beyond the 

 primary coverts, and the second primary exceeding the fifth in 

 length. We have carefully gone over the series of both these 

 Reed- Warblers in the British Museum, and endorse Mr. Howard 

 Saunders' definition of the Marsh- Warbler as being more of a 

 " greenish olive-brown " in tint, with a sulphur-buff instead of 

 rufous-buff colour on the flanks and upper breast. The same 

 observer says that the feet are pale brownish flesh- colour in 

 life instead of being purplish-brown. 



Range in Great Britain. At present only known from a few 

 isolated instances of its capture, and identified more by the 

 eggs and the nest than by actual birds shot in this country. 

 It may, however, occur more frequently than has been sup- 

 posed, and it is quite possible that Marsh-Warblers are doing 

 duty for Reed- Warblers in many collections, as the two birds 

 are so difficult to separate. It is said to visit the vicinity of 

 Taunton, in Somersetshire, every spring, and the nest has 

 been taken in Oxfordshire and near Bath, and also in Cam- 

 bridgeshire. Mr. Robert Read has three nests and eggs taken 

 near Yeovil. Mr. Saunders says that he has seen an undoubted 

 nest of this bird in Mr. Bond's collection, but we agree that 

 the birds which our late friend presented to us at the Museum 

 as " Marsh "-Warblers from the above-mentioned county are 

 really only Reed- Warblers. 



Range outside the British Islands. The Marsh-Warbler occupies 



