446 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



EXTENDED BEEEDING-EANGE OF THE MARSH- 

 WARBLER (ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS) INTO 



HAMPSHIRE. 



By Harry Beeston. 



Ornithologists will learn with much interest that the Marsh- 

 Warbler is extending its breeding area in the South of England 

 to the eastward. 



This year I have reliable and unmistakable evidence that 

 this rare (?) warbler has nested (I cannot say for certain reared 

 a brood) in Hampshire. 



For obvious reasons I refrain from giving the exact locality ; 

 it is sufficient to state that the birds have been noted in one 

 locality at least, within two miles of the West Sussex border, 

 between that boundary and Hayling Island. It is more than 

 likely that diligent search another year may reveal their 

 presence in other suitable localities, several of which exist in 

 the district. The bird is in my opinion a much commoner 

 species than is usually supposed, the nest and eggs resembling 

 so very closely those of the Reed-Warbler that they are quite 

 likely overlooked and mistaken for those of that bird. 



Briefly, the circumstances which brought the bird to my 

 notice are as follows : — 



On June 7th, 1907, I had shown to me two eggs for identi- 

 fication, which I thought at first were rather light-coloured 

 specimens of the Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus). They 

 had been taken by a boy (most good things are discovered, 

 and too often destroyed, by either boys or dogs) in a small 

 secluded reed-bed. 



No information could be obtained about either the bird or 

 nest, except that the nest was built and suspended among the 

 reeds, but had been torn out and destroyed. 



At first I concluded that the nest ivas that of Acrocephalus 

 streperus, and that the eggs were a very light-coloured variety of 

 that bird's eggs. 



