REED-WABBLER. 
57 
Gainsborough, who recorded (‘ Zool.’, 1888, p. 305) that on Gth June he heard 
and saio a pair in Tunneley Wood. Mr. Horn writes : — “ I am not acquainted 
with the note of this bird, and have no report of its nest having ever been 
discovered.” It will be observed that the records for both counties, since Harley’s 
time, have been unsatisfactorily founded upon any other evidence than that of 
actual possession, and believing, as I do, that it is a much rarer bird in the 
IMidlands than is sujiposed — not having seen a specimen for five-and-twenty years 
— I await, with some impatience, the specimen which every one I have known 
has been going to send me “ next year,” but which I have not, as yet, received. 
In order, however, to facilitate the recognition of this bird, I give the following 
distinguishing characteristics of the adidts of the three species so often con- 
founded with one another, compiled from ‘Our Summer Migrants,’ Harting, 
pp. 17, 18, 19:— 
Wood-Warblek . 
Larger than the other two, 
brighter in colour, and has the 
longest wings and legs. Much 
greener on back and whiter on 
under parts, and has a well- 
defined superciliary streak of 
sulphur-yellow. 
Legs brownish flesh-colour. 
Length. Wing. Tar.sus. 
5 '2 in. 3 0 in. 0'7 in. 
Wings, when closed, cover 
three-fourths of tail ; 2nd 
primary = 4th ; 3rd and 4th 
■with outer webs sloped ofif 
totvards the extremity. 
Willow- Warbler. 
Superciliary streak of sul- 
phur-yellow much shorter and 
paler. 
Legs brownish flesh-colo ur. 
Length. Wing. Tarsus. 
5'0 in. 2'6in. O’Tin. 
Wings, when closed, cover 
less than half of tail ; 2nd 
primary = 6th ; 3rd, 4th, and 
5th sloped off. 
Chiff-Chaff. 
Legs dark brown. 
Length. Wing. Tarsus. 
4’7 in. 2’4in. 0’6 in. 
Wings still shorter ; 2nd 
primary = 7th ; 3rd, 4th, 5th, 
and Gth sloped off. 
Young birds, of each species, much yellower, after first moult, than their parents. 
REED-WARBLEK. Acrocephalus streperiis (Vieillot). 
“ Reed-Wren.” 
A summer migrant, breeding, but unevenly distributed. — Harley remarked 
that “ this bird abounds on the banks of the Soar, haunting most osier-beds 
and willow-holts skirting that dull-running stream,” and that it is “ met with 
also in the reed-beds on the banks of Groby Pool, at Dishley Reservoir, at 
Garendon, and elsewhere in the county.” 
He met with a nest, on 20th May, 1839, fixed to three stalks of the nettle, 
some four feet from the ground. It was composed of fibrous roots, fine grass 
and “ cleavers ” {Galium aparine, L.), without the least portion of hair. Air. 
Alacaulay, though living near Saddington Reservoir, where it undoubtedly breeds 
in small numbers every year, had no knowledge of its existence, save on the 
authority of the Rev. A. Alatthews, who said that it occurred in the northern 
division of the county, until I came to Leicester, when, in September, 1880, I 
