70 OUR FA VOURITE SONG BIRDS 



Warbler, with this difference, that the latter species 

 is not so shy and skulking in its movements. Reed 

 Warblers may often be seen amongst the branches 

 of moderately high trees by the water-side; they 

 have the same habit of flitting across the open 

 spaces from one cover to another ; they are similarly 

 nocturnal, and possess the same restless activity. 



The Reed Warbler is another very persistent 

 singer, and during the early summer his song is one 

 of the most characteristic features of the reed-beds. 

 The song is not unlike that of the Sedge Warbler, 

 a chattering melody, in a lower tone, but what it 

 lacks in loudness it certainly gains in gentle sweet- 

 ness. We should describe it as being more 

 monotonous than the Sedge Warbler's, and there 

 is perhaps a more frequent introduction of harsh 

 notes. The bird habitually sings at night, commenc- 

 ing in the warm soft twilight of the early summer 

 evenings, and warbling almost incessantly until the 

 sun reappears above the eastern horizon. Cold 

 sunless days and windy nights almost invariably 

 silence this little reed bird's voice. It continues in 

 song until the eggs are hatched, but is by far the 

 most musical during the first few weeks of its 

 sojourn with us. This species also sings as it flies, 

 and is one which is not readily silenced when once 

 fairly in voice. 



The birds appear to pair after their arrival in the 

 summer quarters, but as the same reed-beds are 



