94 
BIKDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
to Rangoon, and in other suitable localities throughout Pegu east of the 
Pegu river. Mr. Davison procured it in Tenasserim at Tavoy and Male- 
woon, where he states it was rare. 
In winter this Reed-Warbler has a very wide range^ having been found 
in South China, the Malay peninsula, the Malay islands, and also in 
the Philippine Islands, Batchian, Morty, and Lombock. In summer it is 
found in North China, Japan, and Eastern Siberia. 
This species, although always found in the vicinity of grassy tracts of 
land, by no means confines itself to this class of vegetation. It is frequently 
found in trees and bamboo-thickets, and repeatedly comes into bushes near 
villages and houses. The solitary trees which here and there rear their 
heads above the grass in the Pegu plain are generally tenanted by one 
or more of these birds, who probably find in them a large stock of insect 
food. At Paghein and at Wau, where the inspection-bungalows stand 
in a vast sea of high grass with hardly a tree in sight, these birds used 
frequently to come into the house and search the thatch for spiders. The 
note, which is uttered all through the dry weather, but more so in April and 
May than at other times, is particularly loud and harsh ; and were it not 
for this note, hardly a bird would be detected by the naturalist. 
97. ACROCEPHALUS STENTOREUS. 
THE INDIAN GREAT REED-WARBLER. 
Curruca stentorea, Hemp, et Elw. Symh. Phys., Aves. Agrobates brunnescens, 
Jerd. Mad)'. Journ. x. p. 269, Acrocephalus brunnescens, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. 
p. 154 ; Hume 8j- Henders. Lah. to Yark. p. 214, pi. 16 ; Bl. 8f Wald. B. Burm. - 
p. 104. Calamodyta stentoria, Hume, Nests and Eygs, p. 326. Calamodyta 
meridionalis, Legge, S. F. iii. p. 369. Acrocephalus stentoreus, Dresser, 
Birds Eur. ii. p. 585 Hume, S. F, viii. p. 100 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 641 • 
Boig, S. F. ix. p. 279 ; Seehohm, Cat. Birds B. Mus. v. p. 98 ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 213. 
Description. — Male and female. Precisely similar to A. orientalis, and 
undistinguishable from it in coloration. The throat and breast do not, 
however, appear to be so constantly streaked as in the preceding species. 
The dimensions are those of P. orientalis. The bill is said to be larger 
and the tail longer, but I have not found these points of any use in dis- 
criminating the two birds. The second primary equals the fifth, or is 
sometimes shorter, and the second falls short of the tip of the wing 
by '15. 
This and the preceding species, A. orientalis, can only be discriminated 
with certainty when the wings are fully grown and perfect. The differences 
may appear very trivial, but they are constant, and are also associated with 
