114 SYLVIAD^. 



Three nests have been found in Britam, all near Cambridge. 

 " These nests, in each instance, were on the ground. They 

 are cup-shaped, compactly formed of the long narrow leaves 

 of the common reed {Arundo Phragmitis) wound round 

 and interlaced, but without any other lining." The eggs 

 are of a whitish pink colour, covered all over with 

 minute specks of two colours, pale red and light ash-grey. 

 The eggs in one nest were thought to resemble those of 

 the Grasshopper Warbler ; in another those of the Dart- 

 ford Warbler. 



THE SEDGE WARBLER 



SALICAEIA PHRAGMITIS. 



Upper plumage olive-gi-ey, the centre of each feather tinged with lirown ; above 

 the eyes a broad yellowish white stripe ; under, yellowish white, more or less 

 tinged with red ; throat white ; tail rounded, of moderate length, of a uni- 

 form ash-brown. Length four and a half inches ; breadth seven and a half. 

 Eggs dirty white, mottled all over with dull yellowish brown. 



On the banks of reedy and bushy rivers, in marshes, withy 

 holts, wherever, in fact, there is fresh water associated 

 with enough vegetation to shelter and conceal, this bustling 

 little bird is a constant summer visitor ; restless in its 

 habits, and courting notice by its twittering song, from the 

 time of its arrival to that of its departure. It is usually 

 first detected by its rapidly repeated note, which it utters 

 while performing its short flights from bush to bush, and 

 while creeping in and out among reeds and rushes. The 

 fisherman knows it well, and is often tempted to withdraw 

 his eye from his fly or float, to watch its movements on 

 the opposite bank. From its unceasing babble, plough- 

 boys call it a " chat," a name which exactly answers to 

 the French name of the group to which it belongs — 

 '' Jaseuses.^' Its note is remarkable neither for volume 

 nor sweetness, and, like that of unfeathered chatterers, 

 seems to carry more noise than meaning. To a certain 

 extent the bird is a mimic, as it imitates such notes of 



