594 



but nests in that of Bologna. In Sicily, according to the same author, it is abundant in the 

 marshes of the Anapo, and those near Catania; and it appears to be found in the island of 

 Sardinia; and Mr. A. B. Brooke states (Ibis, 1873, p. 244) that it is moderately common and 

 breeds there. It is not uncommon in many parts of Southern Germany. Mr. Jackel says that 

 it is found in Bavaria during passage, and he observed it between the 19th April and the 1st 

 May, and again in autumn after the 19th August, but he observed none later than the 6th 

 September. On one occasion he observed one at Muhlweiher on the 31st July. Dr. Anton 

 Fritsch says (J. f. O. 1871, p. 195) that in most parts of Bohemia it is rarer than the Sedge- and 

 Heed-Warblers ; but Voboril obtained numerous examples from a small lake near Okor ; and 

 Palliardi speaks of it as being one of the commonest Warblers near Franzensbad. The late Mr. 

 E. Seidensacher informed me that he met with it in Styria, near Dobritschendorf, in November 

 1862, which was the only instance he had on record of its occurrence there. It has been met 

 with in the countries skirting the Danube, but is stated by Messrs. Danford and Harvie-Brown 

 to be rare in Transylvania. Dr. Kriiper writes that it is met with in Greece in winter and on 

 passage, but does not remain there to breed. I have no data as to its occurrence in Turkey; 

 but it has been met with in Southern Russia ; for Professor von Nordmann says that he once, 

 on the 18th April, 1835, observed what he calls a family party of this species near Odessa, but 

 he did not subsequently obtain any specimen. It is said to have been met with in Asia Minor, 

 but is not recorded by Canon Tristram as occurring in Palestine. In North-east Africa it is 

 a straggler of very rare occurrence. Von Ileuglin says that it occasionally visits Lower Egypt in 

 winter ; but Captain Shelley suggests that there must have been an error in the determination of 

 his specimens. It is, however, not so very uncommon in North-west Africa. Loche states that 

 it occurs sparingly in the marshes of the river Chelif and other suitable spots in Algeria ; and 

 Canon Tristram found it breeding there. Mr. O. Salvin also writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 305) as 

 follows: — "At the head of the little marsh of Ain Djendeli I more than once observed a pair 

 of this Warbler. We afterwards found it more abundant at Zana, where it was breeding. In 

 its habits it much resembles the common Reed-Warbler ; the eggs also are similar." Mr. C. F. 

 T\ rwhitt-Drake obtained it in Morocco in March; but M. Favier gives no record of its occur- 

 rence at Tangier. Dr. C. Bolle records its occurrence in the Canaries ; and Webb and Berthelot 

 state that it inhabits Gran Canaria ; but Mr. Godman remarks that it cannot be common there, 

 as there are so few places in the island adapted to its habits. He did not observe it during his 

 short visit there. It does not, so far as I can ascertain, range further east than the Ural, and was 

 not met with in Persia by Messrs. Blanford and St. John. 



In habits the present species has much affinity to the Sedge-Warbler ; and, like that bird, it 

 frequents damp and marshy localities where there is an abundance of aquatic vegetation, and 

 where the reeds and flags are dense and high ; but it is stated to prefer such localities where the 

 latter are abundant and the^reeds are more thinly scattered about. Naumann says that where 

 the vegetation is high and consists of Carex paludosa, C. ampullacea, C. acuta, &c. &c, where 

 small patches of grass are surrounded by water and morass, and where large bunches of Euphorbia 

 palustris and small willow thickets are scattered round, the present species is generally to be 

 met with amongst the aquatic vegetation, and less seldom on the willows. It is an active, 

 restless, and very shy bird ; and should any danger threaten, it slips away amongst the vegeta- 



