Birds. 7755 



Notice of the Discovery and Capture, for the first lime in the 

 British Isles, of the Marsh Warbler (Calamoherpe pulslris). 

 By S. P. Saville, Esq. 



I HAVE great pleasure in recording the occurrence, for the first time 

 in Britain, of the marsh warbler of Dr. Bree and other European 

 authors. The specimen which 1 shall hereafter notice was shot in 

 Wicken Fen, distant from Cambridge some twelve miles, on the 18th 

 of June, 1859. * 



It was not until recently, while perusing the work just published by 

 Dr. Bree, that 1 recognized a warbler in my possession, which I had 

 for some time considered a new species, as identical with his figure 

 marked " marsh warbler." After carefully and minutely going over 

 Dr. Bree's description of that species, and comparing my bird with 

 the plate in his work, I felt so convinced of their identity that I 

 determined at once to communicate with Mr. Gould, at the same time 

 forwarding my specimen, and desiring his able opinion. 1 have since 

 received a prompt and corteous reply, stating that my surmises were 

 correct, and that the bird agreed with a specimen in his collection 

 labelled " Calamoherpe pulstris," from Austria. 



I am aware that the identity of several of the European Sylvidie 

 is a much-vexed question, but not in this instance ; and after the 

 decision of so able and experienced an ornithologist as Mr. Gould no 

 one will for an instant doubt the identity of ray bird. 



My attention was first attracted to this species some time since, 

 during a visit to our fens, by the marked difference in the song of a 

 bird somewhat similar in apppearance to the true C. arundinacea; 

 it was louder, clearer and sweeter toned than that of the last-named. 

 Its mode of flight, too, was different both from that and C. Phragmitis, 

 being more undulated aud quicker. It was more shy and timid, con- 

 tinually retreating to the thickest covert ; in short, it was of the most 

 retiring and solitary habit"-. Never, as far as my experience goes, 

 does it emit notes similar to the syllables " chee-chee-chee," so com- 

 mon to C. arundinacea. I have never observed it in any numbers, but 

 on the contrary the instances have been few and far between ; never- 

 theless I am of opinion that it is not so rare as might be surmised, 

 and that after the publication of this notice, and an active research is 

 made at Wicken aud other adjacent fenny tracts, the species will be 

 found to be an annual summer visitant. Perhaps it has hitherto been 

 confounded with its congener, C. arundinacea. This, coupled with its 

 solitary habits, may have caused it to pass unobserved by many au 



