74 



MARSH WARBLER. 



texture of the shell, and delicate dark brown spots on 

 the surface, mingled with which are a number of black 

 dots. The ground colour also in many fresh eggs is 

 green, but clear and very different from the muddy 

 tint of the egg of the Reed Warbler. The female sits 

 daily for some hours, but the male takes his turn. 

 Incubation lasts thirteen days." 



I have been thus particular in quoting the habits 

 and nidification of this bird, as they are the principal 

 means by which the species, though undoubted, is dis- 

 tinguished from the Eeed Warbler. Its powers of 

 imitation are indeed remarkable. M. L'Abbe Caire 

 writes to M. Gerbe: — "This species sings most admirably, 

 imitating with exactitude the notes of the Goldfinch, 

 the Chaffinch, and the Blackbird, as well as all the 

 other birds which frequent its neighbourhood. Its song 

 is richer in variation than that of the Nightingale, and 

 it can be listened to from morning to night." 



I think it very probable that this bird is an inhabi-^ 

 tant of Great Britain, though hitherto confounded with 

 the Reed Warbler. I think I have myself taken the 

 nest; and Mr. Sweet's bird, mentioned by Mr. Yarrell, 

 was probably this species. 



The male and female in breeding plumage are greenish 

 olive grey, the rump somewhat paler green; inferior 

 parts of a white russet, lightest on the chin and throat, 

 having a yellow tint on the sides of the neck and 

 belly; the lores, and a line above the eyes, reddish 

 white. Wings brown, bordered with ash; tail same, 

 bordered with greyish; first primary very short, second 

 a little shorter than the third, which is the longest, and 

 which is twenty millemetres longer than the longest 

 secondary, that of the Reed Warbler being only sixteen. 

 Beak above, black brown, lower mandible yellow flesh- 



