118 A CROCEPHALUS 



In its habits the Reed- Warbler is essentially aquatic, 

 frequenting reed-beds and bushes in swampy localities. As a 

 rule it is not shy but is averse to coming out into the open, 

 and creeps about amongst the dense aquatic herbage with the 

 greatest ease. Its call-note resembles the syllables tscho, tscho, 

 and its song, which is uttered at intervals throughout the day 

 and especially in the evening, is clear and melodious. It feeds 

 chiefly on insects of various kinds, but occasionally on berries. 

 The nest, which is suspended from reeds or willow twigs, is 

 deep cup-shaped, artistically constructed of fine roots, grasses, 

 plant-stems &c., and lined with fine rootlets or grass-bents, and 

 the eggs 4 or 5 in number, are deposited late in May or in June, 

 and are French white faintly tinged with green, and marked 

 with greenish grey underlying shell markings and greenish 

 brown surface spots which are distributed over the whole egg. 

 In size they average about 0'75 by 0'53. 



169. MARSH- WARBLER. 

 ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS. 



Acrocephalus palustris, (Becbst.) Orn. Taschenb. i. p. 186 (1802) ; 

 (Naumann), iii. p. 630, Taf. 81, fig. 3 ; Dresser, ii. 573, pi. 87, fig. 

 2 ; (Gould), B. of E. ii. pi. 109 ; (id.) B. of Gt. Brit. ii. pi. 74 ; 

 Newton, i. p. 373 ; Seebobm, Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. p. 101 ; Sannders, 

 p. 81 ; Lilford, iii. p. 38, pi. 19. 



Bousserolle-verderolle, French ; Cannajola-verdognola, Ital. ; 

 Swirvpfrohrsanger, German ; Bosch-Rietzanger, Dutch ; Sumps- 

 anger ', Dan. ; Karrsdngare, Swed. ; Bolotnaja-McdiTwfka, Russ. ; 

 Lozdvka, Polish. 



( ad. (Belgium). Resembles A. streperus, but tbe upper parts are 

 more olivaceous green, the underparts whiter, and the second quill is 

 slightly shorter than the third, occasionally shorter only than the 4th ; 

 beak and iris as in A. streperus ; legs fleshy brown. Culmen 0'6, wing 

 2*8, tail 2-3, tarsus 0'95 inch ; female similar but rather smaller. In the 

 winter the underparts are washed with buff. 



Hah Europe from southern Sweden to the Mediterranean, 

 and from Portugal to the Ural range, wintering in Palestine, 

 Persia, and Africa ; of rare occurrence in England. 



The Marsh- Warbler is less aquatic in its habits than the 

 Heed- Warbler for though it is found in damp localities, yet it 

 also frequents gardens and groves. Its call-note is harsh, 

 resembling that of the Reed-Warbler, and its song is 

 exceedingly rich and sweet, far superior to the song of that 



