173. Acrocephalus bistrigiceps

173. Schrenck’S REED-WARBLER.
ACROCEPHALUS BISTRIGICEPS.
Acrocephaelus bistrigiceps, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 51 ; Seebohm, Cat. B. Br. Mus. v p. 94; Pleske, Orn. Boss. ii. p. 465 ; (Oates), F. Brit. Ind. Birds, i. p. 358 ; A. maackii (Schrenck), Reis. Amurl. i. pt. 2. p. 370, pl. xii. figs. 4, 5 : Tacz. F. O. Sib. O. p. 236 ; (David and Oust.) Ois. Chine. p. 254.
Male ad. (Japan). Upper parts russet brown, the head, wings, and tail greyer, rump and margins of quills and tail rufescent ; a narrow but distinct whitish superciliary stripe, above which is a dark brown, broad stripe ; lores and feathers behind the eye russet brown ; chin and throat nearly white ; breast and flanks pale rufous brown, the centre of abdomen and under tail-coverts pale buff ; upper mandible brown, the lower flesh- coloured, brown at tip ; legs plumbeous flesh ; iris dark brown. Culmen 0.6, wing 2.1 tail 2.1, tarsus 0.8 inch ; first primary 0.5 long, second inter¬mediate between 6th and 7th.
Hab. Siberia east of the Argun, Saghalien, and Japan ; wintering in Southern Pegu and Tavoy.
In habits it does not differ appreciably from its allies and frequents moist and marshy places. It is an industrious songster and its song is loud and agreeable though somewhat hurried. It commences nidification in June and builds amongst grass or dense undergrowth, and its nest which is placed usually one or two feet above the ground is strongly constructed of plant-cotton, grass and plant-stems, and the cup, which is deep, is lined with finer bents and horsehair. The eggs, 4 to 6 in number, resemble those of A. schoenoboenus, but are much browner and darker, and measure only 0.63 by 0.51.