THE KEED-WAKBLEB 309 



perhaps be illustrated by the following simple verses, written on 

 a spring evening on the Saltwater River near Melbourne. 



Now this will I write for my ladye, 



Thought I, as we pulled down the stream, 



I will tell how that reed-warbler whistled 

 Sweet trills as we passed him abeam. 



Though the rain-drops came down in a patter, 



And made many a bubble and ring. 

 They moved not the face of the river, 



And the reed-bird he ceased not to sing. 



And the plash of the rain on the water 



Seemed to soften my thought as we rowed 



Past the bluff where the martin was nesting, 

 Past the reeds where the warbler abode. 



The birds themselves are rather shy, keeping near their nests, 

 which are generally charmingly sustained a few feet above 

 the water by three or four of the stiff upright reed stems. 

 Though the wind blows down the river the eggs and nestlings 

 are safe, for the nest is a deep cup. It is woven of dried reeds 

 and lined with grass, and the eggs are four in the clutch. The 

 birds feed entirely on insects. 



The Long-billed Reed-Warblers. 



Acrocephahis gouldi. 



Western Australia. 



Sexes alike in colour, russet-brown above, darkest on the head; chin 

 whitish; under surfaces deep fawn-colour. Total length 6.5 inches, wing 

 2.9 or 3 inches. The eggs dull greenish-white, blotched all over, especially 

 at larger end, with irregular patches of olive, measuring .75 by .6 inch. 



The Reed-Warbler. 



Acrocephalus australis. 



Tasmania, Australia, except West and Coburg Peninsula. 



Sexes alike in colour; olive-brown above, under surfaces deep buff, 

 fading into white on the throat; rather larger than the preceding. The 

 eggs greyish-white, thickly marked all over with irregular blotches of 

 yellowish-brown, umber brown and bluish-grey, measuring .85 by .6 inch. 



