CHAPTER XV 



THE REED-WARBLER 



The "Reed-bird" or " Reed-chucker " (for the reed-warbler 

 is known by both names in Norfolk) follows the sedge- 

 warbler and grasshopper-warbler across the sea ; he is the 

 last of the three to appear, waiting patiently till the young 

 reeds shall have grown three or four feet in height, and 

 there is plenty of cover to hide himself and his bride ; for 

 the reed-warbler is a shy bird, and it is not easy to get a 

 shot at him once he takes to the reed-beds, though you may 

 see him when he first arrives, for he generally roosts in the 

 sallow plantings for a few days on his return across the 

 sounding sea, which is oftener at the beginning of May than 

 not — in May, when the gold and black chate flowers deck 

 the dikes. 



From the cool shades of the sallow plantings they fly 

 to the reed-beds, seeking reed-stems that grow in boggy 

 places and marsh swamps, where they grow long and stand 

 rotten, for there he finds his food, the reed-maggots, that 

 leave their reed-cases in spring — maggots looking for all the 

 world like meat-maggots. These are his dainties, but he 

 does not despise insects floating on the water; and if you 

 sit quietly amongst the creaking reed-beds, you may see 

 him running up and down the canes hanging over the 

 water like a mouse, feeding upon his choice insects and 

 maggots. 



The hen-birds often arrive with the cocks, and once they 

 have taken to the reed-beds you may see them chasing each 



