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informs me that at the present time it is only known to inhabit the marshes adjoining the river 

 Maas ; and Professor Schlegel told me, when I last visited him in Holland, that it is found only 

 in a very limited district. It is not mentioned as occurring in Belgium ; and as regards France, 

 it is stated by Degland and Gerbe to be found in Roussillon, Languedoc, and Provence. It has 

 been observed in winter in the Camargue ; and MM. Jaubert and Barthelemy-Lapommeraye 

 state that it is there resident, but migratory on the Durance. It is also said to have been seen 

 near Bordeaux. In Portugal it would appear to be wanting ; but it has lately been found 

 breeding, and not uncommon, in Southern Spain, not very far from Gibraltar, by Colonel Irby 

 and Mr. Stark, to whom I am indebted for specimens of the bird as well as its nest and eggs ; 

 and some excellent notes on its nidification by the former gentleman are given below. I have 

 also examined a specimen in the collection of Mr. Howard Saunders, a bird of the year, which 

 was obtained near Malaga in August 1872. 



Passing eastward, again, we find it recorded as occurring in Tuscany, and especially near 

 Pisa, whence it was obtained, and first described (I. c.) by Savi ; but according to Count Salvadori 

 it is not found in Piedmont or Lombardy, is occasionally met with near Venice, is not rare in 

 Modena and Liguria, whereas in Sicily and Sardinia it is extremely rare. It has, however, 

 occurred at Malta ; but I find no record of it from Greece. 



It appears, according to Count Casimir Wodzicki, to be on the whole not uncommon in 

 Galizia, being numerous in some seasons, whereas in others it is comparatively rare ; and a speci- 

 men was obtained by Mr. Zelebor at Bellye, in the Hungarian Banat. In Southern Russia it is 

 said by Professor von Nordmann to be in all probability not rare in New Russia, as in the latter 

 half of April in two successive years he obtained several live specimens which had entered 

 through the open windows of the orangeries of the Botanic Garden of Odessa. He describes 

 their agility in climbing amongst the plants and their skulking habits. Those captured uttered 

 no note, and only lived three or four days. I do not find any record of its occurrence in Asia 

 Minor ; and a specimen sent to me by Dr. Kriiper labelled S. luscinoides proved on examination 

 to be Locustella fluviatilis ; but Canon Tristram obtained a specimen in Palestine. It occurs in 

 North-east Africa, where, Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 89), " it is resident in Egypt, 

 tolerably abundant, and generally distributed. It usually frequents the corn-fields, selecting the 

 spots where the crop grows most luxuriantly ; and it may also be found in the reedy marshes of 

 the Delta and Fayoom, where I have frequently seen it, and occasionally procured specimens. 

 When disturbed it leaves its shelter very reluctantly, and flits away hurriedly, flying close to the 

 top of the herbage for a short distance, and then it suddenly dips down and is immediately 

 hidden. Nor will it allow itself to be driven far from the place whence it originally started, 

 but, if pursued, prefers to seek shelter by creeping among the stalks of the plants rather than 

 expose itself again by taking wing. On this account the bird is difficult to procure, and is 

 consequently rare in collections." Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor also met with it in Egypt in winter. 

 It also occurs in North-western Africa ; and Loche states that it occurs in some parts of Algeria, 

 such as Harrach and Lake Halloula, from March to September, but it is local and not found 

 throughout the year. Canon Tristram, however, met with it during winter in the sedges round 

 the Sebka, Waregla, N'goussa, and Tuggurt; and Mr. Salvin writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 304) as 

 follows : — " I found this bird abundant in the marsh of Zana. On approaching the margin of 



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