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CALAMOHERPR ARUNDINACEA.
Reed Warbler.

Motacilla arundinacea, Lightf. in Phil. Trans., vol. Ixxy. p. 8, pl. 1
Sylvia arundinacea, Penn. Brit. Zool., vol. i. p. 520. 3
Curruca arundinacea, Flem. Brit. Anim., p. 69.
Salicaria arundinacea, Selby, Ill. Brit. Orn., vol. i, p. 203.
Turdus arundinaceus minimus, Sepp, Vog.,, t. p. 101.—Id. p. 97, nest.
Calamoherpe arundinacea, Boie, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 285.
Sylvia strepera, Vieill.
Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Riipp.

——— dumetorum, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng.

| , Vol. xviii. p. 815 ?
Calamodyta arundinacea, Gray, List of Gen.

and Subgen. of Birds in Brit. Mus., p. 33.

um OUGH somewhat locally distributed, the Reed Warbler must rank as one of the commonest of the
British birds; it occurs, however, less frequently in the western than in the
it proceed so far north as to be included among the birds of Scotland, and I have no reliable evidence that
it has ever been found in Ireland. Mr. Rodd mentions it in his List of Cornish Birds, but adds that it is rare
and very local. It is especially abundant on the banks of the Thames from Oxford to London; it is equally
numerous on the rivers Kennet and Colne, and it also frequents all the fluviatile districts of Sussex, Kent,
Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. All round and even within the Metropolis many pairs annually breed; and
at the moment I am writing (July 4, 1862), two pairs, at least, with their nests and young, may be seen in the
lilac-trees of the Zoological Society’s Gardens in the Regent's Park. On the continent of Kurope, Holland
appears to be its chief place of resort ; it also frequents France and all the central countries. Italy, Turkey,
Asia Minor, and the whole of the Peninsula of India, I believe to be within the range of its migrations. The
Indian birds have had the name of dumetorum applied to them by Mr. Blyth; but, on a careful comparison of
specimens killed in Europe with others from India, Iam unable to detect sufficient difference to induce me
to regard them as distinct species. On the Thames and its tributaries it js generally associated with the

eastern counties; neither does

Sedge Warbler in the same ait, patch of willows, or bed of rushes, the two species living in harmony, and
competing with each other, both night and day, in the volubility with which they pour forth their songs, which
bear so great a resemblance that it requires a very nice ear to distinguish the one from the other.

Mr. Selby states that ‘its song is varied and pleasing, with fewer of the harsh notes that prevail in that of
the Sedge Warbler, but is delivered in the same hurried manner ;” and Mr. Sweet says that he had a male
bird that sung occasionally all the winter. The song was very loud and variable, consisting of a great
number of notes, and sung with many changes of voice, so diversified as to resemble the song of several
different birds. ‘Its ordinary note,” says the Rev. F. O. Morris, “ is rapidly hurried, harsh, loud, garrulous,
and unmusical, uttered almost incessantly, especially when its nest is in any danger—a mere ‘kurrrrrrr.’ It
has been likened, by J. G. Bonney, Esq., of Rugeley in Staffordshire, to the words ‘chree, que, treet,’
repeated without any order.”

The incessant babbling made by numbers of this bird and the Sedge Warbler at sunrise on the banks of the
Thames is beyond my power to describe. Those who have a sufficient love of nature to leave their beds at
three o'clock on a fine July morning will be rewarded by a concert of which, until heard, they can have no
conception. e

Although naturally somewhat recluse, or evincing a preference for the thickest part oe oie coverts, it is by
no means shy,—at least, I have never found it so. Its nest, without the slightest artifice, is placed on any
exposed fork of an overhanging willow, or supported (as it very frequently, 1S) ie ce or four adjoining
stalks of rush; it will be seen, therefore, that the site of the nest is somewhat varied : it 1s always ge
more deeply cupped than that of the Sedge Warbler; and the eggs, also, are much more strongly blotched.

That two birds, generically distinct, should be so similar in habits and style of coloumis as the Sedge and
During flight, while singing or threading the reeds, a close

i s is very singular ; yet so it is.
oe ee ae i. attracted our attention ;

inspection is necessary before we can say with certainty which of the two ee has ie a ae
on a careful examination, however, it will be seen that the Reed Se 1S ca ange size, a Oo ae y
at the Sedge Warbler has a conspicuous stripe of buffy Ue over t eye and the
l ack. From the 15th of April to the first
lities. The same stimulus

uniform colour; and th can

head and upper surface longitudinally streaked and blotched with b ee
: ee S ae

week in May is the time at which these birds arrive 1n all the above-mentione

: Bee ert » of them is universally
affects both alike: both spend the winter in Africa, and the summer in England; one of ne me
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