"6 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



is very prolific in imitations of the songs of other species, frequently even more 

 versatile than the Icterine Warbler, though in strength of voice, in purity and 

 flute-like character of tone, it stands a good distance behind it. Probably Herr 

 Rausch bases his remarks chiefly on wild specimens ; but it is quite possible that 

 he may also have heard them in captivity. 



Family— TURDID^. Subfamily— S YL VIINAL. 



The Great Reed-Warbler. 



Acrocephalus turdoides, MeyER. 



According to Seebohm, the only satisfactorilj' authenticated instance of the 

 occurrence of this species in our islands is one shot near Newcastle on the 

 28th May, 1847, by Mr. Thomas Robson. Howard Saunders, however, evidently 

 believes in three other British killed specimens, one shot near Wingham in Kent, 

 on September 14th, 1881, one near Ringw^ood, Hampshire, on June 3rd, 1884, and 

 one shot near Sittingbourne in Kent, at some unknown date : he also believes in 

 the existence of a specimen which frequented the Norfolk broads. 



As the species breeds annually at Calais, and is common both in Holland and 

 Belgium, Mr. Saunders considers it a marvel that its visits to our shores are so 

 rare. At best this can only be regarded .as a casual wanderer to Great Britain. 



