SEDGE-WAEBLEE. 109 



brandies of the willow and birch., as well as from the 

 stems of aquatic plants. It is singular that the nest of 

 this species should have been so often confounded with 

 that of the reed warbler, being so different in shape and 

 general character ; for the depth and compactness of the 

 one, which suits it so admirably for its position on the 

 reeds, is wholly wanting in the other, which is flat and 

 loosely constructed. Such as I have myself examined have 

 resembled in form the black-headed bunting's, and were 

 built externally of the stems of grasses interwoven with 

 moss, and lined with the feathery tops of umbelliferous 

 plants, neatly arranged round the upper surface, with a 

 small portion of thistle down. Certainly, as far as the 

 broads are concerned, where by far the larger number that 

 visit this county are collected together, I have had every 

 opportunity of observing their habits, and amongst 

 some dozens of nests have found none that, like the reed 

 warbler's, could be termed in any way suspended. Here, 

 amongst the small sallow and alder bushes on the marshes 

 are their most favourite nesting places, the nest being 

 placed near the ground, and resting on the long coarse 

 grasses which hide the stems ; I have also found it in 

 some few instances in a little hollow on the ground, but 

 so concealed amongst the surrounding moss as to be dis- 

 coverable only by the bird rising frightened from the spot. 

 Again amongst the sedges, as its name denotes, it 

 seeks concealment in the treacherous nature of the soil, 

 and the nests may be there found supported, but not 

 suspended, on the dead weed and leaves of the sedge 

 broken down. These bii'ds, together with the reed 

 warblers, sing at intervals throughout the night in the 

 early summer, breaking forth into those bursts of 

 melody which so astonish and delight the ear of the 

 naturalist, who hears them for the first time during the 

 ^' dark hours ;" whilst their power of imitating the songs 

 of other species is equally remarkable. In the breeding 



