^°^ British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



Family— TURDID^. Subfamily— S YL VIIN^E. 



The Reed- Warbler. 



Acrocephahis sfirperus, ViEILL. 



SEEBOHM states that, on the Continent, the Reed- Warbler "is found in 

 suitable localities in summer throughout Europe, south of latitude 58°, and 

 in Asia Minor, Palestine, South-west Siberia, Turkestan, Persia, Baluchistan, and 

 probabty in Afghanistan. It is said to be a resident in Greece and the surround- 

 ing islands ; but it passes through North Africa on migration, and winters in 

 Central Africa." 



In Great Britain this species is local, being very common in the Southern 

 counties, with the exception of Cornwall and the Scilly Islands ; it is also common 

 in suitable localities in \\"ales, Cheshire, and Yorkshire ; but local in Lancashire 

 and rare in Cumberland. In Scotland it is said to have occurred, and one example 

 has been recorded from Ireland ; but these statements require confirmation. 



The Reed- Warbler above is olive-brown suffused with chestnut, more especiall}- 

 on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; the innermost secondaries with pale margins ; 

 an ill- defined pale- buff superciliar}- stripe ; under surface creamy- white, the breast, 

 flanks, and under tail-coverts rufous-buff ; bill dark horn-brown above, paler below, 

 feet slaty-brown, iris brown. The female nearly resembles the male ; both sexes 

 are slightly more rufescent after the auttunn moult. The j^oung are ver\- tawny 

 on the under surface. 



This species reaches Great Britain towards the end of April, and leaves again 

 in September. 



Although, as its name implies, the Reed- Warbler mostly frequents reed-grown 

 dykes, ponds, or the edges of broads and rivers where reed and sedge abound ; I 

 have seen it also fair]}- abundant in marshy copses in Kent, and in gooseberry 

 gardens in Norfolk ; but always in the \dcinity of water : on the other hand ^^Ir. 

 R. H. Alitford speaks of its nesting in lilac-trees in his garden at Hampstead. I 

 have three nests built in forks of hazel, the first of which is of the normal tj'pe, 

 and was given to me by the Hon. Walter de Rothschild, who obtained it at Tring ; 

 the two others were sent to me bj' ]Mr. Salter, from Salisbury, and decidedly 



