THE AQUATIC WARBLER. 

 Acrocephalus aquaticus (J. F. Gmelin). 

 Plate 8. 



The first authentic example of the Aquatic Warbler was discovered in the 

 collection of the late Mr. Borrer, of Cowfold, Sussex, by Professor Newton. This 

 bird had been shot on October 19, 1853, near Brighton, and had long been 

 considered as only a brightly-coloured specimen of the Sedge-Warbler. Since 

 that date, however, a number of other specimens have been recorded. Abroad it 

 is found during the breeding season in the central and southern parts of Europe, 

 and is said to winter in Africa. 



According to Mr. Dresser [Manual of Palcearctic Birds, p. 123): "It breeds 

 in May, and its nest, which resembles that of the Sedge- Warbler but is smaller, 

 is constructed of plant stems and bents, and a few rootlets, worked together with 

 insect webs and intermixed with plant cotton, and lined with horsehair." 



The number of eggs varies from four to five. Seebohm describes them {British 

 Birds, vol. i. p. 359) as : " Brownish white in ground-colour, thickly mottled and 

 clouded over the entire surface with yellowish brown, and sometimes with one or 

 two streaks of dark brown." 



The song resembles that of the Sedge- Warbler, but is inferior. 



Its food consists of insects. 



This bird is easily distinguished from the other by the broad, buff streak 

 running through the centre of the crown. It is shy and retiring in its habits, 

 escaping observation by creeping among the reeds and tangled vegetation of 

 marshy ground. 



The female does not differ from the male in colour. 



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