MAUSH WARBLER. TI 



Specific Characiers. — Upper parts of the plumage shaded with 

 greenish or oHve grey ; a white streak over the eyes, and the tin- 

 der parts of the body also white, with an ochreous tint. Tail 

 coverts yellowish, edged with olive grey ; both the outer tail quills 

 pale whitish at the end; the longest wing primary longer than 

 the longest secondary. Length of an adult male sent me by M. 

 E. Verreaux, five inches and a half; carpus to tip, two inches 

 and a quarter; tail two inches and a quarter; tarsus nine-tenths 

 of an inch. 



We have now arrived at Count Miilile's last section 

 of the SylviadcB, containing the interesting and hirge group 

 of Reed Warblers. The Sedge and Reed Warblers of 

 our own island are so well known that it is hardly 

 necessary to say anything about the habits of the 

 family, which are very similar in all the species. They 

 may, however, be distinguished by the following char- 

 acters. The forehead is narrow and flat, the feet 

 are strong, and the claws long and slender; wings 

 short, and the tail round or cuneiform. The distinctions 

 of sex are not strongly marked, and there is generally 

 a bright whitish or cream-coloured stripe extending over 

 the eyes. The young moult in the spring for the 

 first time. They are found principally in northern 

 climates, and generally near water or marshes, and are 

 not found among high trees, or in mountainous dis- 

 tricts. They arrive late and migrate early, and there 

 is a great similarity in their song. They are insectivorous, 

 and build in reeds or bushes, having always a stalk 

 or branch passing through the nest, which is so formed 

 and fixed, that although swayed about by the wind so 

 as nearly to touch the water, the eggs do not fall out. 



The Marsh Warbler, the first which I am called 

 upon to notice, is very similar in external form and 

 colour to our Reed Warbler, but differs considerably 



