BIRDS OF THE REED-BEDS AND GRASS-LANDS 
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Notes. —Also called Reed-warbler and Marsh-warbler. Usually in 
pairs, frequenting reed-beds and rank grass-lands. It is extremely shy, 
generally keeping among the reeds. Its call-note is a long-drawn-out, 
plaintive whistle, repeated a few times. Food: insects and various seeds. 
Nest .—An oval-shaped structure with a side entrance near the top, 
composed of coarse grasses and aquatic plants; lined with feathers, a few 
of which protrude from the opening. Generally built in a tussock of long 
rushes growing in or near water, in a swamp tea-tree, or a mangrove tree. 
Eggs. —Usually four, pinkish or reddish-white, almost obscured with 
freckles of purplish-red, sometimes evenly distributed, at other times 
forming a zone on the larger end. Breeding-season: August to January. 
22. Tawny Grass-bird Megaliirus galactotcs Temminck 
gal-ac-to-tes —derivation unknown. 
Distribution .—From tropical northern Australia to New South Wales. 
Notes. —Usually in pairs, frequenting reed-beds and rank grass-lands. 
It is a shy bird and rarely seen. Its call-note resembles a harsh and 
rapidly repeated “Quitch.” Food: insects of various kinds, and seeds. 
Nest. —A deep, cup-shaped strtucture, slightly domed or narrow at 
the top, composed of dried swamp grasses; lined with feathers. Generally 
built at the base of a tuft of long rushes. 
Eggs. —Usually three, reddish-white, freckled all over with purplish- 
red markings, which predominate on the larger end. Breeding-season : 
October to February. 
23. Reed-warbler Acrocephalus australis Gould 
Ac-ro-ccpli-al-us —Gk, acros, top; Gk, cephale, head : australis — southern 
(Australian). 
Distribution. —Australia generally, and Tasmania. 
Notes. —Also called Reed-bird, Water-sparrow, and Nightingale. 
Usually in pairs, frequenting reed-beds. It is a migrant, generally arriv¬ 
ing in south-eastern Australia during August and departing in March or 
April. It is a general favourite and common in most of the ornamental 
lakes of parks and gardens. It has a rich, varied, and melodious song, 
resembling ‘‘Twitchee-twitchee-twitchee-quarty-quarty-quarty/’ which is 
frequently poured forth at intervals throughout the day and night. Food: 
insects of various kinds and minute freshwater molluscs. 
Nest .—A deep, cup-shaped structure, slightly narrower at the rim, 
composed of soft paper-like sheaths of reeds and dead aquatic plants, 
firmly woven round the stems of the reeds between which it is placed; 
lined with fine dried grasses. 
Eggs .—Three or four, varying from faint bluish-white or greyish- 
white to pale yellowish-brown, freckled and spotted with reddish and light 
brown and lavender markings. Breeding-season: September to February. 
