CALAMOHERPI1SLE. 155 



longer tlian the 2nd. The wing too is longer.. 3| in the European 

 bird, and it is more intense in its color ; in both the first primary 

 is very minute. 



The larger Reed-warbler is found in most parts of India in the 

 cold weather, for it is only a winter visitant. It extends into 

 Assam, Arracan, and China, in some parts of which latter country 

 it most probably breeds. It frequents high reeds and grasses, 

 high grain fields and gardens, where it hunts among the pea-rows, 

 beans, and other vegetables. It clings strongly to the stalks of 

 grain, and makes its way adroitly through thick grass or bushes, 

 concealing itself when observed and being with difficulty driven 

 out. It feeds on small grasshoppers, ants, and other insects. I 

 have heard it occasionally utter a harsh clucking kind of note. 

 The European bird is said to have a charming song, to make a 

 neat nest among reeds, and to lay four or five greenish white eggs 

 with grey and brown speckles. 



516. Acrocephalus dumetorum, Bltth. 



J. A. S.,XVIIL, 815— Horsf., Cat. 517— A. montanus, Blyth, 

 Cat. 1079 — Sylvia montana, Sykes, Cat. 78 — and Jerdon, Cat. 

 123 — Salic, arundinacea, Hodgson — Podena, H. : — Tik-tikki of 

 Mussulmans — Tikr'a, Beng. — Kumpa-jitta. Tel. 



The Lesser Reed-warbler. 



Descr. — Above olive-brown, with a pale supercilium ; beneath 

 whitish, tinged with pale earthy brown. 



Bill dusky, fleshy at base beneath ; legs red brown ; irides 

 yellow brown. Length 6 inches; wing 2 fa; bill at front fa ; 

 tarsus -fa. 



This bird so closely resembles the A. salicaria of Europe, 

 that Mr. Strickland, at one time, pronounced it to be the same. 

 It differs, however, besides in some proportions of the quills, in 

 having less brown tint above and on the breast and flanks, and in 

 the bill being less compressed, though vertically deeper. It has 

 the same proportions of the quills as the last species, and thus 

 differs from A. montana of Java, the 1st quill being very minute 

 and pointed, and the 2nd equal to or longer than the 6th. 



