( 183 ) 

 NESTING HABITS OF THE MARSH-WARBLER. 



BY 



PERCY F. BUNYARD, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 



Mr. Warde Fowler has described* the nesting habits 

 of the Marsh-Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) so ad- 

 mirably that perhaps little that is new can be added 

 to his observations. Nevertheless; the bird is so rare 

 as a breeding species in this country that a short account 

 of my experiences with two pairs this summer may be 

 of interest. On June 26th I received a telegram from 

 a friend in Somersetshire to say that he had found a 

 nest with eggs, and had also another pair of birds under 

 observation. In the hope of hearing the birds singing 

 we were on the spot where the nest had been located 

 (elevation 500 ft. above sea-level) just after sunrise, but 

 only heard a few notes during a wait of some few minutes. 

 My companion then took me to the nest, which was 

 situated in a broad, rough, overgrown hedge (composed 

 of whitethorn and elder) on the side of a lane, and 

 bordering a field of wheat. The nest was on the field side 

 of the hedge, about three feet from the ground, and was 

 beautifully concealed (a good deal of herbage was removed 

 for the purpose of photographing). The nest was sup- 

 ported by two stems of bracken, and one of stinging nettle, 

 round which the nest had been built. This nest resembled 

 in general appearance that of a Whitethroat much more 

 than that of a Reed- Warbler. It was loosely constructed 

 on the exterior, and the interior was well and evenly lined. 

 The materials used in the exterior were rather coarse grass, 

 two pieces of frayed-out cotton, and one small feather 

 (possibly from one of the birds). Finer grass was used 

 as the lining was approached, and this was composed of 



* " Zoologist," 1906, pp. 401-9. 



