Heed Warbler. 155- 



Its colour is on the upper parts oil-green and yellowish-brown 

 and below yellowish dusky white, but though it closely resembles 

 its congeners in other respects, it may on comparison be dis- 

 tinguished from them by the distinct white streak that passes 

 above the eyes. 



It derives its scientific name phragmitis from tppdypa, ' a fence/ 

 from its habit of haunting fences or hedges. The French name, 

 Bee-fin phragmite, the Swedish, Sdf-sdngare, and the German, 

 Schilfsanger, as well as our English name, are taken from the 

 localities it affects. It is the first of the River Warblers to arrive 

 here. 



48. REED WARBLER (Salicaria arundinacea). 



Very difficult, but for the mark over the eye, just described 

 is this species to be distinguished from the last, which it 

 resembles in the time of its arrival and departure, in the 

 localities it frequents, in habits, general appearance, and colour : 

 it is, however, not nearly so common. Montagu says that 'in 

 Wiltshire and Somersetshire, where the Sedge Warbler abounds, 

 not a single Reed Warbler is to be found ;' here, however, our 

 worthy countryman is mistaken, for I have myself observed it by 

 the banks of more than one reedy stream ; the Rev. G. Marsh has 

 frequently seen it on the Avon ; Mr. Withers has taken it near 

 Devizes. The Rev. A. P. Morres pronounces it nearly if not quite 

 as abundant as the Sedge Warbler in his district near Salisbury, 

 and adds that it is one of the most favourite nests selected by the 

 cuckoos of that neighbourhood for their nursery. Mr. Harting 

 says it is a species much overlooked, and instances that a notice of 

 its occurrence at Marlborough was given ' for May 31st, at least 

 six weeks after its usual time for arriving.'* I used to find in 

 my bird-nesting days the deep cup-shaped nest of this species, 

 cleverly suspended between three or four reeds on the banks of 

 the Thames at Eton, in perhaps greater profusion than the nests 

 of the Sedge Warbler. t 



* ' Our Summer Migrants,' p. 326. 



t See Zoologist for 1853, p. 4095, on the nesting of the Reed Wren. 



