BIRDS OF THE MARSH AND LAKE 409 



Broads, and even here it would seem that their 

 numbers are rapidly growing less. 



To the willows and hazels at the edge of th(i 

 stream, as well as to the reed-beds, certain small 

 warblers come in the summer. Of these, the Sedge 

 Warbler is by far the most abundant. With the 

 exception of the Sandpiper and the Dipper, the 

 angler has no more constant companion than the 

 little Sedge Warbler. True, its confidence is not 

 easily gained. As one approaches the river where 

 the willows grow so thickly on the bank that a way 

 must be forced through their branches before the 

 shingle below can be reached, we hear the rapid 

 notes, "chip-cheep, chissock-chissock, cheep-chip," 

 many times repeated. The bird is so near, almost 

 at our feet, in a moment more we must see it. No. 

 On the instant that we stand still the song is 

 arrested. Peer as we will through the narrow 

 green leaves which droop and dip into the slowly 

 moving current beneath, no sign of the bird meets 

 the eye. W"e brush our way down the sandy de- 

 clivity, a little disappointed. Now the rod is put 

 up, and, standing on the shingle, we cast up-stream 

 to the break in the water where it swirls round the 

 great mossy stone. For the time we have forgotten 

 all save the rightful object of our pursuit : the good 

 trout which is well-nigh certain to be lying just 

 beyond the fringe of the weeds. As we cast, the 

 " chip-cheep, chissock-chip " starts out again from 

 the willows almost at our elbow. But again 

 the song at once ceases. So we resume our 



