l8o THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



ditches, quite dry in summer ; it is seldom more than two 

 or three feet above the ground, in low herbage, brambles, 

 osiers, bushes or small trees. "Never" is a dangerous word 

 to use about birds ; the oft-repeated statement that it is never 

 suspended but always supported is incorrect, though the latter 

 is the rule. It is a fairly neat, rather shallow nest of grass and 

 moss, lined with horsehair or willow-down or other soft vege- 

 table tissues. Whether constructed by one or both birds, or if 

 there are one or two broods, are disputed points of no great 

 moment. It is often the middle of May before the five or six 

 eggs (Plate 65) are laid ; they are buff or yellowish green, 

 clouded, suffused or finely speckled with darker brown, and 

 usually with a few black hair lines. In one case which came 

 under my notice a bird sat long on eight eggs, but when these 

 were finally deserted they were found to be infertile. 



In summer the general colour is reddish brown with dark 

 centres to the feathers, forming streaks on the back, but not on 

 the tawny rump. A conspicuous yellowish white superciliary 

 stripe is bounded above by an almost black streak, and the 

 centre of the crown is streaked with light and dark brown ; the 

 ear-coverts are brown. Light edges show on the wing feathers. 

 The under parts are buff, whitish on the throat, and warmest 

 on the flanks. The bill is dark brown, the legs pale brown, 

 and the irides hazel. After the autumn moult the eye-stripe 

 and under parts are buffer. The young bird is redder, and has 

 faint spots on the throat and breast. Length, 475 ins. Wing, 

 2*5 ins. Tarsus, "8 in. 



Aquatic Warbler. Acroccphalus aquaticus (Gmel.). 



The Aquatic Warbler (Plate 75), a rare visitor to Britain, 

 has possibly the right to be classed as an occasional summer 

 resident, since it is reported to have nested with us. It is a 

 European bird, inhabiting western countries south of Denmark, 

 and it winters in Africa. 



