82 MARSH-WARBLER. 
bird has been watched year after year by Mr. W. Warde Fowler 
and others. The late Mr. F. Bond had a genuine nest and eggs of 
this species, which he took some years ago in Cambridgeshire, but 
the pair of birds which he obtained at the same time and place are 
simply Reed-Warblers (Coll. Brit. Mus.). 
Denmark, and Revel in Esthonia, appear to be the northern 
limits of the breeding-range of the Marsh-Warbler ; while eastward 
it extends across Russia to South-western Siberia, Turkestan and 
Persia; the bird wintering in many parts of Africa, as far south as 
Natal. South of the Baltic it is generally distributed in suitable 
localities throughout Europe, except in the extreme west, respecting 
which further information is desirable. The ‘ Verderolle,’ as it is 
appropriately named in French, undoubtedly breeds in Picardy, and 
as far west as Normandy ; but as yet no specimens are forthcoming 
from the Spanish Peninsula, where the Reed-Warbler breeds freely. 
In the low ground of Switzerland, as at Interlaken, Brienz, Lucerne, 
&c., the Marsh-Warbler may always be observed ; as well as along 
the valley of the Rhine, especially near Coblenz (J. H. Salter), and 
in Holland. 
The Marsh-Warbler does not frequent reeds, but often breeds in 
cornfields, far away from any water except a small brook, though 
usually in some swampy thicket or osier-bed. The nests never over- 
hang the water, although often close to it, in low bushes, or among 
rank meadow-sweet, cow-parsnip and nettles; those which I have 
examined were composed of fine round grass-stalks and lined with 
horsehair. The 5-7 eggs are much whiter in their ground-colour 
than those of the Reed-Warbler, with spots and blotches of olive- 
brown and violet-grey: measurements °73 by ‘55 in. Only one 
brood is reared in the season, but if the nest be taken, another is 
soon built, and fresh eggs have been found in the beginning of July. 
The male bird is often conspicuous at some distance from the 
nest ; not skulking like the Reed-Warbler, but boldly pouring out 
a song far more melodious and imitative than that of its congeners. 
The food is similar to that of the Reed-Warbler. 
The adult is olive-brown above, with a faint buffish-white streak 
over the eye; under parts white, tinged with sulphur-buff; wing- 
feathers olive-brown, tipped and margined with pale-buff ; bill horn- 
brown above, paler below; legs and feet brownish flesh-colour. 
Length 5°25 in. ; wing to the end of the 3rd and longest primary 
27 in.: longer than in the Reed-Warbler. In fresh and fully 
moulted birds the 2nd quill infinitesimally exceeds the 4th: the 
reverse being the case with the Reed-Warbler. 
