THE REED WARBLER 69 



later of our summer migrants, not reaching the 

 British area before the end of April or the beginning 

 of May. Owing to its partiality for certain haunts 

 it is a somewhat local species, and what is even 

 more remarkable, is its absence from many ap- 

 parently suitable districts. But this, we are con- 

 vinced, is more due to the law which governs the 

 dispersal of species, than to any capriciousness upon 

 the part of the bird itself The favourite resorts of 

 this Warbler are reed-beds, and the reed- and willow- 

 fringed banks of slow-running rivers, and stagnant 

 dykes and pools. Brushwood and thickets by the 

 water-side, and less frequently localities affording 

 plenty of cover, at some distance from water, may 

 also be given as its haunts. A casual observer 

 might be led to suppose that the Reed Warbler is 

 gregarious, but such is not the case ; although many 

 pairs may be met with in a comparatively small 

 area, each keeps to certain limits and resents in- 

 trusion. The Reed Warbler is more retiring in its 

 habits than the Sedge Warbler, and is not so readily 

 observed, skulking persistently amongst the thickets 

 and the reeds, eluding observation by its mouse-like 

 actions, and only betraying its whereabouts by a 

 harsh scolding note, as if of remonstrance, by a 

 snatch of song, or by tlie vibiation of a reed or twig 

 as it glides from stem to stem with marvellous 

 celerity. The general habits of the Reed Warbler 

 are almost exactly the same as those of the Sedge 



