BIRDS OF COOKHAM AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 79 
in my collection was picked up on the carriage-drive, completely 
egg-bound. I may add that in my collection I have a pair of 
Blackcaps from the River Gambia, in West Africa. ‘This fact is 
interesting as showing the locality to which the bird takes its 
flight in winter. I believe, however, that the Blackcap often re- 
mains in this country the whole year round. 
Sub-fam. CALAMOHERPNIE. 
Genus LoousTELLa. 
53. Locustella Rayi. The Grasshopper Warbler. 
A single specimen of this Warbler is in Mrs. De Vitré’s col- 
lection at Formosa. It was obtained by Mr. Briggs in a small 
hedge close to Cookham church-yard. His attention was drawn 
to it by its peculiar note, and he tells me he had very great dif- 
ficulty in perceiving its whereabouts, in consequence of the ven- 
triloquial character of the note, but he succeeded at last in finding 
and shooting the bird. With regard to the deceptive character 
of the note of the Grasshopper Warbler, Mr. H. Whitely, of 
Woolwich, a well-known and experienced field-naturalist, informs 
me that he has observed the same peculiarity, and he accounts for 
it in this way. In watching the habits of birds among the furze 
on open commons, he has often been within a few yards of Grass- 
hopper Warblers, and as the bird creeps among the lower twigs 
of the furze-bushes it only emits a slight noise, which by degrees 
increases in intensity; he has observed the throat on these oc- 
casions, and has distinctly noticed the increased effort on the 
part of the bird. 
Genus CALAMODYTA. 
54. Calamodyta phragmitis. The Sedge Warbler. 
This species is common all along the banks and reed-beds of 
the Thames in summer, and I have frequently found their nests. 
Genus CALAMOHERPE. 
55. Calamoherpe strepera. The Reed Warbler. 
This bird is usually known by the name of the Reed Wren, but 
as I have before observed, we ought to be careful in assigning 
