29 



OUR SUMMER VISITORS. 



By T. DUCKWORTH. 



(Read at Carlisle.) 



The Grasshopper Warbler. 



The first visitor I am going to speak about is one of the shyest, 

 and perhaps the least-seen, of any that we have in this country. 

 Have you ever heard on a fine summer evening, a peculiar trilling 

 sound, like that of a cricket ? If you have, it is the song of the 

 Grasshopper Warbler (Salicaria locusiella), a bird which is known 

 in France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, as well as in 

 Denmark and Sweden. This bird arrives here about the 29th of 

 April. It is fairly plentiful in some parts, but is very local in its 

 distribution. I believe it is unknown in the southern part of this 

 county. I have heard it near Stainton, Kingmoor, Newbiggin, 

 Brisco, Wreay, Cumwhinton, Todhills, Wragmire, Orton, Nevvby 

 Cross, and in different parts on the banks of the Petterill, the 

 Caldew, and the Eden. In some years it appears to be more 

 numerous than in others. By referring to my note book, I find 

 that in the years 1880 and 1881, they were very numerous in their 

 favourite localities. They prefer the dry furzy commons, the out- 

 skirts of woods, and open parts in the same ; but I have heard 

 them also in rough occupation-lonnings. The best time to see 

 this bird is on its first arrival, as the males are the first to come, 

 and they then select the topmost twigs of the heather, furze, etc., 

 to utter their cricket-like cry, which is their only song of love. My 

 brother in May, 1879, saw and heard six males, all trilling within 



