BIRDS OF THE HEATH 309 



vegetation \vhich grows in neglected hedge-bottoms, 

 or in the recesses of whin-coverts. It is formed of 

 coarse grass and moss hned with finer stems, and 

 is hidden so deeply that the bird has to thread its 

 way through the rank herbage, often for several 

 feet, before the site can be reached. The position 

 of the nest can be discovered only by watching the 

 movements of the bird as she approaches or leaves, 

 and in Yarrell we have a description of the diffi- 

 culties to be encountered. The hen was seen 

 repeatedly to draw near the top of the whin-bush 

 and to descend through its branches to a deep, 

 narrow furrow below, overhung with prickly sprays 

 and grown over with thick coarse grass, matted 

 together year after year, to the height of about two 

 feet. This the observer was obliged to take away 

 piecemeal in order to come upon the nest. 



Mr. Metcalfe also relates an incident illustrative of 

 the habits of this bird. Believing a nest to be hidden 

 in a certain field, he was beating the rank herbage 

 with a slender willow' wand when a Grasshopper 

 Warbler flew from a tussock. As it rose it seemed 

 to come in contact with the wand and fell to the 

 ground apparently dead. The touch was so slight, 

 however, that it seemed impossible the bird should 

 have been injured, so tearing aside the long grasses, 

 he replaced it on the nest. In a moment or two he 

 saw it furtively raise its head and peer out from the 

 screen, doubtless to see if the intruder had with- 

 drawn. 



The eggs of the Grasshopper Warbler are from 

 five to seven in number, and are of a pinkish-white 

 ground colour spotted with reddish-brown. 



