NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



THE MARSH WARBLER. 



On account of its great 

 similarity of size, general 

 appearance, and habitat, 

 this rare British breeding 

 species was long con- 

 founded by naturalists 

 with the Reed Warbler. 

 The bird is greenish- 

 olive on its upper parts, 

 and lacks the rusty-red 

 rump and sides of the 

 commoner species. Its 

 under parts are white, 

 slightly tinged with yellowish-buff on the 

 sides where the Reed Warbler is reddish 

 buff. Its legs are pale flesh-brown in 

 colour, whereas those of its relative are 

 dark slaty-brown. 



This species does not build its nest 

 over water, whereas the one with which 

 it has been confounded nearly always 

 does so. The structure is composed of 

 grass stems, and occasionally bits of 

 168 



