3O BRITISH BIRDS. 



white ; throat and belly white ; bill horn brown above, base 

 of lower mandible yellow ; iris brownish-yellow, tarsi dark 

 slate-brown. Length 5-50 ; wing 2-50. In autumn : more 

 rufous above and more buffish below. Female scarcely 

 differs, but is slightly smaller. 



Arrives towards end of April, leaving in September. 

 Common throughout England, except in the most northern 

 counties, Cornwall and the west of Wales ; of very casual 

 occurrence in Scotland; in Ireland one is said to have been 

 taken near Dublin, December 2ist, 1843 (Thompson). 

 Frequents chiefly reed-lined rivers, lakes and large ponds ; 

 nest being generally suspended between three or four reeds 

 which pass through its sides ; sometimes placed in willow, 

 or other trees ; it is very deep and neatly constructed of 

 grass-blades, fine roots, moss and wool, lined with fine 

 grass, hair, wool or feathers. Eggs 4 or 5 ; greenish white, 

 variably spotted and suffused with dark olive-green and light 

 brown, and with one or two black spots ; size "73 by '53. 

 Song quick and varied, often heard after dusk. 



38. Acroeephalus palustris (Beeh.). 



MARSH-WARBLER. 



Hab. Temperate Europe (excepting, apparently, west of 

 France and Spanish Peninsula), north to Denmark, east 

 to Turkestan. In winter south to Africa. 



Adult : upper plumage olive brown with a nearly 

 imperceptible eye streak ; wing-quills with pale buffish 

 margins ; breast, flanks and under tail-coverts pale yellowish 

 buff ; throat and belly whitish ; bill dark brown above, 

 pale below ; best authorities say that tarsi and feet are 

 " brownish flesh-colour " during life. Length 5.50 ; wing 

 2*90. Upper parts are " earthy brown in summer, with a 

 scarcely perceptible shade of rufous after the autumn 

 moult, slightly paler on the rump " (Seebohm). 



