648 Mr. J. D. D. La Touclie on the [Ibis, 



lias the legs described on the label as plumbeous. Seventeen 

 males and four females measure as follows : — 



Culmen... 10'5-12 mm.; average, a little over 11 mm. 



Wing 51-55'5 „ „ 53 mm. 



Tail 50-54-5 ., „ 52 „ 



Tarsus ... 22 



The 1st primary is minute as in A. uf/ricola ; the 2nd 

 primary is equal to the (Jth, or is intermediate between the 

 6th and 7th ; the 3rd and 4th primaries are equal and longest. 



This Reed-Warbler might at first glance be mistaken for 

 A. bistrigiceps, but on closer exa'iiination it will be found 

 to differ from that species in its wing formula, minute 

 first ])rimary, brio-hter colouring, large bill, and long and 

 narrow rectrices. It is closely allied to A. agricola, from 

 which it differs in its wing formula, brighter colouring, and 

 dai'k stripe above the eye. 



Tlie North ('hiiia R,eed-Warbler is very comn;on in the 

 small millet-fields [Paniciim italicum, P. miliaceuni , and P. 

 crus-galli) in the plains round Chinwangtao from about 

 the 18th of August to early in the latter half of September. 

 In spring I have only met with it on a few occasions, each 

 time among willow-scrub and long grass at the port itself 

 (on the 30th of May and the 2nd of June, 1913, when a 

 ])air was seen and secured on each of these dates; at the end 

 of JNlay and on the 5th of June, 1915, when several specimens 

 were seen ; and in 1917 from the 21 st of j\Iay to the beginning 

 of June). It is probable that this Reed-Warbler breeds in 

 the marshes of tlie district. In autumn it abounds in the 

 millet crops, which it works in parties, generally in company 

 with A. sorghopliilus iind A. bis/rigiceps, flitting through the 

 cover and occasionally sidling up to the millet tops, where 

 the birds sit, i)reening their feathers for a short time before 

 commencing their search after food. It does not appear to 

 frequent paddy-, sorghum- or maize-fiehls, but I once, on the 

 16th of September, shoe one out of a ];arty in a patcii of 

 reeds in a marsh, 1 have never heard the bird utter a 

 sound. It seems to moult towards the end of August. 



