THE REED-WARBLERS. 
23 
thirds of the extent of the tail, so ns to be almost level with the out- 
stretched feet ; whereas in A. strepcrus the wing is much shorter, 
only reaching about half the extent of the tail, and falling far 
short of the outstretched feet. These characters depend much 
upon the preparation of the skins ; but we have compared only 
those which seem to have their natural proportions preserved. 
The colour of the legs, said to be different in life, is not visible 
in the dried skin, and the character which seems to us to be the 
most constant is the olive-colourof the upper-parts in A.p^lustris 
and the want of the rufous shade on the lower back and rump. 
Many specimens presented to the British Museum as Marsh- 
Warblers seem to us to be only Reed-Warblers after all. ( Cf 
also Saunders, Man., p. 93). Total length of A. paluslris, 5-5 
inches ; wing, ex). The proportions of the quills are the same in 
both species, the bastard-primary not reaching beyond the 
primary coverts, and the second primary exceeding the fifth in 
length. We have carefully gone over the series of both these 
Reed-Warblers in the British Museum, and endorse Mr. Howard 
Saunders’ definition of the Marsh- Warbler as being more of a 
“greenish olive-brown ” in tint, with a sulphur-buff instead of 
rufous-buff colour on the flanks and upper breast. The same 
observer says that the feet are pale brownish flesh- colour in 
life instead of being purplish-brown. 
Range in Great Britain. — At present only known from a few 
isolated instances of its capture, and identified more by the 
eggs and the nest than by actual birds shot in this country. 
It may, however, occur more frequently than has been sup- 
posed, and it is quite possible that Marsh-Warblers are doing 
duty for Reed-Warblers in many collections, as the two birds 
are so difficult to separate. It is said to visit the vicinity of 
Taunton, in Somersetshire, every spring, and the nest has 
been taken in Oxfordshire and near Bath, and also in Cam- 
bridgeshire. Mr. Robert Read has three nests and eggs taken 
near Yeovil. Mr. Saunders says that he has seen an undoubted 
nest of this bird in Mr. Bond’s collection, but we agree that 
the birds which our late friend presented to us at the Museum 
as “ Marsh ’’-Warblers from the above-mentioned county are 
really only Reed-Warblers. 
Range outside tie British Islands ---The Marsh-Warbler occupies 
