40 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



other from reed-clump to reed-clump, or you may see the 

 cocks flying up in the air like butterflies, sailing down into 

 the reeds with outspread wings. By night, too, the court- 

 ship goes on, so eager are they to pair, and though they 

 soon mate, they are in no haste to squander their honey- 

 moon — they wisely enjoy their young lives, singing sweetly 

 at intervals by day and night, but most sweetly at break of 

 day and closing-in time. Only one hour seems sacred to 

 them, the hour before midnight, when the reed-beds grow 

 silent, though some restless youngsters may break even that 

 solemn stillness. 



If, in the bright mornings of May or long June evenings, 

 you push quietly into the reed-beds, and follow some watery 

 path bright with white water-ranunculus, arrow-head leaves, 

 and white and yellow water-lilies, and bordered with beds of 

 lush gladen brown with spindles, nodding holders with their 

 crowned and feathery heads erect as plumed lancers, you will 

 hear, as you move silently through the soft ghost-like reflec- 

 tions of the water-plants, the sweet song of these birds — a 

 song sweeter in note and more finished than that of the sedge- 

 warbler, but hardly so spontaneous and joyous. There, 

 amid the soft music of the water-plants, as they whisper 

 together like lovers at dusk, come the reed-warblers in 

 legion and drown the music of the breezes. And as their 

 chorus dies away, a pike splashes, a coot calls, the breeze 

 freshens, rustling the water-plants, and the reed-leaves 

 crackle till you feel their hardness and sharpness ; the 

 breezes gain strength, their passion rises, and they sigh 

 through the watery jungle, the reed-plants clashing against 

 each other and creaking as they bend before the freshening 

 breeze : then the reed-warblers are silent, for they love still 

 quiet weather ; they brook no rival music. 



But as the sun warms the waters the bird's passions 

 kindle, and the happy pair begin to weave the wonderful 

 nest, choosing three or four (oftener four) stout amber 

 reeds for support. Beginning above high-water mark (some 



