THE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER 77 



birds it stands out prominently as the most curious 

 singer. The song is composed of one long tremu- 

 lous trill, louder than the noise made by the grass- 

 hopper, but just as monotonous. This sibilant song 

 often lasts without cessation for two or three minutes 

 together, now sounding startlingly near, or very 

 remote as the bird changes its position in the thick 

 cover — loud and close when the singer is up in 

 the branches, low and remote when down in the 

 grass and weeds. We have often heard the song 

 of this species likened to the sound made by a 

 fisherman's winch when the line is running out at 

 full speed. The song of this Warbler may be heard 

 at all hours of the day and night ; but it becomes 

 specially loud and continuous in the dusk of the 

 summer's evenings. If disturbed whilst singing the 

 bird appears to show little uneasiness, and is not 

 readily silenced. The song may cease for a moment 

 as the bird's retreat is approached, but it bursts out 

 anew directly afterwards in another part of the 

 cover ; and you may chase the bird up and down 

 for an hour or more without once getting a peep 

 at the hidden songster. This song is heard most 

 persistently through the early summer, but wanes 

 after the eggs are hatched, and ceases altogether 

 before the moult. 



The nesting season of the Grasshopper W^arbler 

 is in May and June. Although many pairs of birds 

 may be nesting within a small area of suitable 



