THE REED-WARBLER. 

 Acrocephalus streperus (Vieillot). 

 Plate 7. 



This species is a regular summer visitor, arriving in England towards the 

 end of April. It is locally common in many parts, where the surroundings suit 

 its habits, and is usually to be found among reed-beds or where willows fringe 

 river margins. It is very rare north of Yorkshire, while only two authentic 

 occurrences of the bird have been noted in Scotland on migration (Fair Isle, 

 autumns of 1906 and 1909), and one in Ireland, October 1908 (Rockabill Light). 



This species is found practically over the whole of Europe, except the ex- 

 treme north ; also in South-western Asia. It winters in Africa. 



The deep cup-shaped nest of the Reed-Warbler is beautifully constructed of 

 fine grasses and the flowering tops of reeds, wool, moss, &c. 



Stevenson, in his Birds of Norfolk (vol. i. p. 116), says : "The ordinary number 

 of reeds selected is three, round which the materials are firmly woven, so as 

 to include them all in the structure, whilst the nest is placed, with instinctive 

 judgement, neither low enough to be affected by the rising of the water, nor yet 

 high enough to be influenced too powerfully by the wind. Occasionally a nest 

 may be found on four reeds ; and I once found one on five, and another on two ; 

 but these cases are rare." The four or five eggs are a pale greenish-white, marked 

 with greenish-brown and grey. 



The bird is of an active and restless disposition, and its song, consisting 

 of various notes rapidly delivered, is not altogether unmusical. It is continued 

 till late in the evening, while in calm, still weather it is often heard during 

 the night. 



It feeds on water insects of various kinds and their larvae, sometimes during 

 autumn taking fruit and berries. 

 The sexes are alike in plumage. 



46 



