THE GARDEN WARBLER 35 



From notes made during a great number of years, 

 recording observations on the song of the Garden 

 Warbler, we find that it is in fullest power during 

 May and the first half of June ; that the bird sings 

 little during inclement weather ; and lastly that on 

 very rare occasions it may be heard warbling on 

 still, hot summer nights. The typical Warblers are 

 not anything like such night-singers as the Reed 

 Warblers, and we are inclined to think that in 

 most cases their night song is due to their being 

 disturbed, and not from any natural nocturnal habit. 

 The breeding season of the Garden Warbler is 

 in May and June. The birds apparently pair after 

 their spring migration, and nest-building commences 

 very soon after that event is settled. The nest may 

 be found in a variety of situations, but is generally 

 never many feet from the ground. It is variously 

 placed amongst brambles and briars, in low thorn 

 trees, or in gooseberry and currant bushes. In 

 other cases it is placed amongst nettles or in 

 amongst the foliage of growing peas. Wherever it 

 is built, however, the birds are most careful to 

 select a spot in which it is absolutely concealed by 

 surrounding leaves. The nest is a flimsy net-like 

 structure, composed of round dry grass-stalks chiefly, 

 with perhaps a scrap or two of moss and a few roots : 

 sometimes, but not always, a slight lining of horse- 

 hair is added. The sides of the nest are skilfully 

 interwoven with the surrounding twigs and stems ; 



