

MARSH WARBLER IN OXFORDSHIRE. 305 



mimic, but as I have more to say directly of his powers in this 

 direction, I will only note that, besides the notes of other birds, he 

 distinctly appeared to me to take pleasure in imitating the sharp- 

 ening of a scythe, a sound frequently to be heard from an adjoining 

 field. But as a rule the quality of his song was clear and sweet, 

 and often quite individual ; and it was not maintained for so long 

 a time, or so monotonously, as the strain of the Keed Warbler, or 

 the rattle of the Sedge Warbler, but was often suddenly broken 

 by intervals, assuming a new character when taken up again. 

 I could not find the nest, and I doubt if it had been by that time 

 completed. 



It was two years before I was able to renew my acquaintance 

 with the Marsh Warbler. In June, 1891, I paid a visit to the 

 Alps with my friend Mr. 0. V. Aplin, who has already described 

 (pp. 8, 9) how we found the nest and eggs near Interlaken, and 

 again near Stauzstadt, and how we were favoured with unusual 

 opportunities of observing the plumage, habits, and song of the 

 bird. To his remarks I will only add that at Meiringen I visited 

 alone the spot where'I had found the bird in 1889, and again 

 found him in full song. He deluded me for a moment into 

 thinking that a Chaffinch was singing in the same bush, and 

 once I fully believed I heard the Nuthatch's clear metallic note. 

 He also mimicked the Skylark, the Great Tit, the White Wag- 

 tail, the Tree Pipit, and the call of the Kedstart. Again, at 

 Stauzstadt, while Mr. Aplin was discovering the Tawny Pipit, I 

 listened to a very fine singer, and made the following note : — 

 " In the song there are parts that remind me strongly of the 

 Nightingale, as well as many other imitations ; but there is a 

 very sweet varied individuality about it, which makes it quite 

 unmistakeable. The bird is in fact more highly bred and 

 accomplished than either of the other British Acrocephali ; he is 

 not all excitement like the Sedge Warbler, nor yet lethargic like 

 most Eeed Warblers. He sings here on the top of a reed with 

 great spirit, showing the bright yellow of the interior of his bill, 

 as he stretches it wide with head erect." Soon after our return 

 to England, Mr. Aplin had an egg brought him which was un- 

 doubtedly that of a Marsh Warbler ; the nest was in meadow- 

 sweet, as was the case with the two we had found in Switzerland. 

 This caused me to pay attention to a large osier-bed near my 

 home in the extreme N.W. of Oxfordshire, which was overgrown 



