RUFOUS SEDGE WARBLER.
Salicaria galactoses, GOULD. SCHLEGFX. TEMMINCK.
Sylvia galactotes, TE&IMINCK.
Salicaria. Salix—A willow—as one might say, Willow Bird.
Galaclotes— ?
IK Europe this newly-discovered British species inhabits Greece and
Spain. It is also a native of Africa, belonging to Egypt; and in
Asia has been obtained from the neighbourhood of Mount Caucasus.
On the lGth. of September, 18.34, one, a male, was shot in this
country by Mr. G. Swaysland, of Brighton, near a part of the Sussex
Downs, known by the name of Plumpton Bosthill.
This bird is described as of wary habits.
The eggs are of a pale greenish white colour, spotted and speckled
over 'invicem' with two shades of darker greenish brown.
Male; length, seven inches. The bill is slightly curved; the upper
mandible is brown above, the sides pale yellowish brown, of which
colour is the lower mandible; from the base of the bill there is a
dark streak going back to the eye. Iris, reddish brown; over and
under the eye, and passing backwards, is a short cream-white streak.
Head, crown, neck, and nape, fawn-colour; chin, throat, and breast,
dull white; back, fawn-colour.
The wings have the first quill feather short, the second and sixth
of nearly equal length, the third, fourth, and fifth equal in length,
and at the same time the longest in the wing. Greater and lesser
wing coverts, fawn-colour; primaries and secondaries, brown, the outer
edges reddish buff; greater and lesser under wing coverts, delicate
fawn-colour. The tail, which is much cuneated, and consists of twelve
feathers, has the two long middle ones reddish buff, the others reddish
buff over two thirds of their length, each gradually shortening,
then crossed by a broad band of black, the remainder white, the
outside paler on each side, with the largest portion of white.
Underneath the tail is marked as on the upper surface, but is not so
bright. Upper tail coverts, reddish buff. Legs, toes, and claws, pale
brown.