THE ZOOLOGIST. 
THIRD SERIES. 
Vou. IV.) SEPTEMBER, 1880. [No. 45. 
FIELD NOTES ON THE REED AND MARSH WARBLERS. 
By Henry Sexsonm, F.Z.S. 
Tue Reed Warbler and the Marsh Warbler are closely 
allied species. Some English ornithologists, who from some 
cause or other have never made the personal acquaintance of 
both species, have refused to admit their distinctness. No doubt 
they are very closely allied; but in their song, habits, eggs, 
and geographical distribution they differ as much as a Blackbird 
differs from a Thrush. A newly moulted example, either after 
the spring or autumn moult, of the Reed Warbler can always 
be distinguished from a Marsh Warbler by the russet-brown 
of its rump and upper tail-coverts, which in the latter species 
are olive-brown. Examples in which the plumage is much 
abraded are, of course, somewhat difficult to distinguish. 
The Reed Warbler is seldom found where reeds and flags 
do not abound, and in these reed-beds it generally builds its 
nest, and lays eggs having greenish brown spots upon a pale 
greenish brown ground. The Marsh Warbler, on the other 
hand, is seldom found where willows do not grow, and it prefers 
to build its nest in willow trees, often six feet or more from 
the ground. The ground colour of the eggs is almost white, 
and the spots consequently are much more conspicuous, and 
are greyer in colour. The range of the Reed Warbler extends 
further west. In many places in England it is a common 
bird, whilst in South-east Russia it is said to be very rare. 
The Marsh Warbler, on the contrary, has only doubtfully 
3.¢ 
