330 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



concealed among the reed-stems of the lower branches of 

 a bush, or even in a hollow in the ground. Exceptionally, it 

 is at some height from the groiind. Hair and sometimes 

 feathers are used for the lining of the cup-shaped 

 structure of moss and coarse grasses. The five or six dull- 

 yellow eggs are mottled ^\'ith yellowish brown, and are 

 often finely scrolled with black. 



THE REED=WARBLER 



(Acrocephalus streperus). 

 Plate 130. 



The Reed- Warbler, or ' Reed-Wren,"* is an allied bird 

 of very similar habits. The absence of light and dark 

 streaks from the crown, and the fact that the rump is 

 chestnut-coloured, are guides for the identification of this 

 species. 



It inhabits the same sort of damp localities as the Sedge- 

 Warbler, but, like that species, it is not altogether re- 

 stricted to them. Its British range, however, is much 

 more limited — suitable parts of England and Wales, ex- 

 cluding the extreme north and south-west. In Scotland 

 and Ireland it is unknown. 



Trees are not infrequently resorted to for nesting 

 purposes, but reed-beds are the more usual situation. In 

 the latter case the nest differs from that of the Sedge- 

 Warbler in being suspended. The grass and moss 

 of which it is made are woven round several adjacent 

 reed-flags, so that the structure is borne upwards with 

 their growth ! In this situation the nest might seem to 

 be at the mercy of the wind ; but the deep, cup-like shape 

 prevents possible accidents to the contents. When the 



