358 ON THE SIBILOUS LOCUSTELL, OR "GRASSHOPPER WARBLER." 



out its long tongue in so imposing a manner, that one cannot help feeling some- 

 what nervous in such company. This little incident served to keep us on our 

 guard ; ere long we heard a rustling similar to that made by the Snake ; and 

 looking carefully amongst the underwood, observed a small bird at the foot of a 

 Fir-tree, scraping the ground with its feet, and altogether comporting itself in a 

 very extraordinary manner. Its short jerky movements at first led us to sup- 

 pose that it was an eccentric Sparrow, tired of the ceaseless jargon and lawless 

 life of its comrades, and determined to pass the remainder of its existence in 

 peace and seclusion. The bow of the head and cock of the tail next caused U8 

 to mistake it for a Wren, though certainly not of the common species. At 

 length, with some difficulty, on account of the intervening brushwood, we 

 "obtained a clear sight of the bird, which turned out to be a Locustell ! We 

 were almost as pleased at this as if we had added a new Wren to the British 

 fauna, seeing how rarely the species has been recorded as occurring so far north 

 in England. 



It seemed like a stranger in a foreign land, and would sometimes sit motionless 

 on a twig several minutes together, without so much as moving its head once, 

 or testifying the least sign of life — reminding one most ludicrously of a very 

 melancholy and " interesting " young lady. It appeared to consider the brush- 

 wood scarcely a sufficient concealment, and frequently endeavoured to nestle 

 into the ground at the foot of a young Fir-tree, scraping with its feet, and 

 fluttering occasionally with the wings. We noticed this singular manoeuvre 

 several times, and indeed it was that which first attracted our attention to 

 the spot. 



Some authors have characterised the Locustell as shy, but we believe this to 

 be incorrect. It is not to be supposed that every bird or other animal of hidling 

 or solitary habits must necessarily be timid, though they frequently are so. The 

 present species, like many others, probably only seeks shelter in bushes, &c, 

 from a desire to conceal itself, apart from any other motive. It appears, in fact, 

 to be secretive rather than cautious. Indeed, so far was the individual above 

 referred to from being shy, that it seemed to be on excellent terms with us, and 

 would at any time allow us to approach within a few feet of it, on which occa- 

 sions we could gaze at each other with mutual satisfaction. Had a gun been at 

 hand, nothing would have been easier than to have shot the bird ; yet the bushes 

 and underwood, in the midst of which it almost always remained, rendered it 

 difficult to obtain, at pleasure, a distinct view of the whole bird at once. Though 

 naturally active and sprightly, it seemed to be burdened with some weighty cares 

 it could not disclose ; and although we stood watching it full three-quarters of 

 an hour — to the unfeigned astonishment of a fellow working in an adjoining 

 field — it did not once utter the slightest note or chirp of any kind. 



