THE REED WARBLER. 



Sylvia arundinacea, Lath. 



This species, sometimes called the Lesser Reed 

 Sparrow or Reed Wren, has often been confounded 

 with the Sedge Warbler. It may however be dis- 

 tinguished from that bird by the base of the bill 

 being broader ; in having no light shade over the 

 eye, which in the other is broad and conspicuous ; 

 and in the whole upper parts being of one plain 

 olive brown colour, the under parts more inclined 

 to yellow. There is but little difference in the 

 female. 



Mr. Sweet describes the Reed Warbler as " a 

 pretty little lively species, generally frequenting the 

 sides of rivers and ditches, when in a wild state, 

 where its warbling song may be heard amongst 

 the reeds and sedges, or other thickets, that are 

 near the water ; visiting us the beginning or mid- 

 dle of April, and leaving again in September : 

 towards autumn it leaves its usual haunts, and 

 frequents the gardens for the sake of insects. It is 

 particularly fond of the common house-fly ( Musca 

 dornestica ) ; and I have frequently seen several of 

 them in August, and the beginning of September 

 by the side of large dung-heaps, where those flies 

 breed, and about that time are coming out from 

 the pupa state in great quantities : they may then 



