420 
Mr. H. E. Dresser on a new 
stration, although strong evidence is given in favour of the 
former. We have quite failed in persuading a red Eclectus 
in the Zoological Society^ Gardens to agree to live with a 
green one, although it must he allowed that this is sometimes 
the case with legitimate man and wife. 
XLIL—Ora a new Species of Marsh-War bier. 
By H. E. Dresser, F.Z.S. &c. 
A short time ago Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen, forwarded to 
me two birds from the collection of Count Ercole Turati, of 
Milan, for determination, one of which was labelled (( Sylvia 
magnirostris , Kokand, , No. 9625.” I compared this 
specimen carefully with Acrocephalus magnirostris, Lilje- 
borg (which species I may here remark is identical with A. 
dumetorum, Blyth, from India), and also made a critical com¬ 
parison with other allied forms, and came to the conclusion 
that it is a distinct and probably hitherto undescribed species. 
I informed Dr. Finsch of the result of my investigations, and 
proposed to return the specimen to him, in order that he 
might describe it; but he wrote in reply stating that, if I 
felt convinced that it is distinct, he would prefer me to do 
this; and I therefore propose to call it Acrocephalus sogdia- 
nensis, the country where it was obtained being the Sogdiana 
of the ancients. 
This bird is more nearly allied to Acrocephalus palustris 
(Bechst.) than to A. dumetorum, but differs in having a longer 
wing, a very much larger first primary, and being much 
greyer in tinge. Upper parts dull olive-brown, with a greyish 
tinge, rather darker on the head; rump and upper tail-coverts 
a trifle less grey; wings and tail dull brown, the quills and 
wing-coverts narrowly margined with dirty whitish or pale 
whity brown, the tail-feathers (excepting the central rectrices) 
indistinctly margined with pale brownish white; the outermost 
rectrix, however, has this light border extending almost over 
the entire outer web, and this and the next feathers have tole¬ 
rably broad whitish tips, the next in order having this white 
