knowledge freshly-killed examples of this species are often
sent from Rotterdam, that there is accordingly reason to
think that it may not have been obtained in this country so
often as has been supposed.*
Mr. Hancock, in the communication already in part cited,
goes on to say that he had little doubt the bird shot in
Durham (which, it may be remarked, is perhaps the most
northern locality ever recorded for the species) was breeding
in the neighbourhood, and mentions his having received
from Northamptonshire, nearly two years before, an egg unquestionably
belonging to the Reed-Thrush. This egg, he has
since informed the Editor, came from a collection formed by
the late Mr. Wheelwright, but it was unaccompanied by any
positive information as to where it was taken. Eggs from
the same source are in the collection of Mr. Bond, who has
also stated that he has some others, believed to have been
taken in Hertfordshire. In the last Edition, too, of this
work, mention was made of a nest belonging to Mr. Butterfield,
and said to have been found near Dorking. Those
who have formed an acquaintance with this bird in its haunts
will not readily credit the supposition that it can breed in
this country or often visit us unnoticed, and the fact is
remarkable that in none of the cases cited do the finders of
these reputed nests seem to have been struck by the bird’s
loud song and harsh cries of alarm.
In habits the present species almost exactly resembles its
commoner congener next to be described. Both frequent
much the same kind of locality, and their nests, except in
size, are almost exactly similar. The eggs of the Great
Reed-Warbler are four 01* five in number, measuring from
•91 to ‘84 by from ’65 to '61 in., and are usually of a very
pale greenish-blue, blotched and speckled with ash-grey,
reddish-brown and very dark olive: sometimes the whole
ground-colour has an olive tint.
In the 1 Naturalist ’ for August, 1838 (iii. p. 419), Mr. Blyth states that a
season or two previously Mr. Bartlett obtained in the London market a recent
specimen of this species, which fact possibly indicates that the practice of importing
fresh examples from abroad has not been confined to the last few years.
Referring to the best authorities, we find that this bird,
though common in the south of Europe, yearly breeds
in the northern departments of France, even as near to us
as Calais. I t is well known in Belgium, and is abundant in
most parts of Holland, where it arrives about the beginning
of April. I t has occurred in Heligoland, and is an annual
visitor to Holstein, breeding near Kiel, and, indeed, it may
be said throughout Europe generally south of the Baltic.
Pallas mentions it being very common about Astrakan, and
Menetries says it is not rare near Lenkoran, but there is 110
evidence of it further eastward*. In the Holy Land its note
is said to be heard from every cane-brake, and there, says
Canon Tristram, the bird seems to have two distinct forms,
one darker and larger than the other 1. Dr. von Heuglin
gives it as an occasional winter-visitant to Lower Egypt, and
adds that Dr. A. E. Brehm found it on the Upper Blue Nile
in January. It. is said to occur in Tripoli, and it breeds
abundantly in Algeria, where, says Mr. Salvin, its song may
be heard incessantly night and day. Dr. Hartlaub states
that it has been sent from the Gaboon to the Paris Museum,
and it is said to have been obtained by Andersson in
Damaraland t
The whole length of the adult male is nearly eight inches;
the wing from the carpal joint to the tip, about three inches
and a h a lf: the bill brown, the lower mandible yellow at the
base and underneath to the tip ; irides brown: a line of dirty
white, in some specimens tinged with yellow, from the
nostrils over the eyes; top of the head, cheeks, ear-coverts,
neck, back, wings and upper tail-coverts uniform light
brown; primaries, secondaries, and tail-feathers darker,
with light edges; the tail graduated, the middle pair of
* In China, Japan, and some islands of the Malay Archipelago it is represented
by Acrocepkctlus orientalis, in India by A. brunnescens, and in Australia
by A. australis, all more or less nearly-allied species, but apparently always
distinguishable.
f One of these may possibly be the A . arabicus recently differentiated by Dr.
von Heuglin.
+ In South Africa another allied species, A . coffer, is believed to exist, and it
is possible that this was the bird obtained.