172 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



would merely have historical interest, for it has vanished from 

 the fenland haunts in which it formerly bred, a summer resident. 

 It still nests in many parts of Europe and northern Africa, in 

 the former so near Britain as Spain, France and Holland, 

 though it is said to be decreasing in numbers. The last known 

 British nest was found in 1856. Drainage of the fens in Cam- 

 bridge and Huntingdon certainly destroyed its old haunts, but 

 dense reed beds still exist in Norfolk, and as the Bittern and 

 Ruff have returned, and the Bearded Tit is again locally plenti- 

 ful, it may some day, reinstate itself. It used to reach us in 

 April and nest in May, and the reed-men of the past were well 

 acquainted with its reeling song, distinguishing it without 

 difficulty from the Grasshopper- Warbler. Its trill is said to 

 be pitched higher, more melodious but less powerful than the 

 song of its well-known congener, but Mr. Jourdain, who has heard 

 the bird in Holland, says that " it is louder than that of the 

 Grasshopper-Warbler and possesses a more metallic click." So 

 far as is known the bird is purely insectivorous, and in most of 

 its habits resembles the common species, but is less shy and 

 skulking and climbs reeds to sing, showing itself openly. 



The nest is a deep cup, built in reed beds, sedges or other 

 aquatic vegetation, and is placed upon a platform of reed 

 blades ; it resembles the nest of a crake rather than a warbler. 

 The four to six eggs are white or buff, well speckled with brown 

 and grey. 



The uniform reddish brown of the upper parts prevents 

 confusion with the streaked Grasshopper-Warbler, and its 

 twelve-feathered fan-shaped tail distinguishes it from some of 

 its rarer relatives ; on the tail are indistinct bars like those on 

 our bird. Its whitish under parts are tinged with buff on the 

 breast, flanks and under tail-coverts. The bill is dark brown, 

 the legs pale brown, and the irides hazel. Young birds have 

 paler under parts. Length, 57 ins. Wing, 2"6 ins. Tarsus, 

 •9 in. 



