84 GREAT REED-WARBLER. 
Warbler ; and by some authors it is inappropriately termed the 
Great Sedge-Warbler. 
The Great Reed-Warbler is only a rare migrant as far as the 
lower portion of Sweden, while the islands at the mouth of the 
Gulf of Riga appear to be its northern limit, but in suitable 
localities south of the Baltic it is abundant in summer throughout 
Europe; also occurring on the Caspian and in Turkestan. In 
Morocco and Algeria it is to a great extent resident; its winter 
migrations extending almost to the extreme south of Africa. In 
Egypt, and eastward to India, its line is crossed by that of A. 
stentoreus, a close ally. The Great Reed-Warbler nests annually as 
near to us as Calais, and is quite common in Belgium and Holland. 
In the breeding-season this species may be looked for among tall 
reeds and bulrushes, whether on the banks of streams and lakes, or 
on small ponds. The nest, seldom finished before the end of May, 
is a compact cup-shaped structure, some five inches deep, composed 
of dry reeds and grass, with a lining of the finer portions and the 
flowers of the same; the whole being closely bound to several 
upright reed-stems, or sometimes willow-twigs. The 4-5, often 6 
eggs, are pale greenish-blue, blotched and speckled with ash-grey, 
russet-brown and dark olive: measurements ‘9 by 65 in. Only one 
brood is reared during the season, and by the beginning of September 
the southward migration has taken place. In its habits the bird is 
generally bold, and it is conspicuous, as it flits from one clump of 
reeds to another, or sits high upon one of the upper stems, uttering 
its loud harsh song, arra-karra-karra, karee-karee-karee, charra- 
charra-charra ; it has also a croaking note when alarmed. It sings 
from early morning till late at night. Its food consists principally 
of insects and their larvae, especially reed-beetles (Donacia) ; but in 
autumn it is said to eat elder-berries, &c. 
The adult male has a dull whitish streak from the nostrils over 
each eye ; the upper parts are warm olive-brown, with paler tips and 
margins to the feathers of the wings and the graduated tail; under 
parts warm buff, whiter on the throat and belly; bill brown, 
yellowish at the base; inside of the mouth orange-yellow ; irides 
brown ; legs pale horn-colour. Length 7°8 in.; wing to the tip of 
the 3rd and longest quill (the first or bastard being very small) 
3°75 in. The female is slightly smaller. The young are more 
fulvous on the under parts, and are slightly striated on the sides of 
the neck and throat. 
