98 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
the head, back and wings greenish brown; centres 
of the feathers darker brown, producing a spotted 
appearance; the feathers of the tail graduated and 
of a uniform brown, the ends triangularly pointed ; 
chin, throat, breast and belly pale brown, spotted 
with dark brown on the neck and breast; under tail- 
coverts pale brown, streaked along the centre with 
darker brown; legs, toes and claws pale brown.” 
The egg is rather smaller than that of the Hedge- 
sparrow; of a dull white ground colour, thickly but 
very minutely speckled with a reddish purple. 
SepGE WarsBueR, Salicaria Phragmitis. This is 
also an aquatic warbler, much resembling the last in 
its habits, but, being more numerous and not so shy, 
is far better known. It arrives in this country about 
the same time as the Whitethroat; indeed I have 
several times noted the appearance of the two birds 
on the same day, generally about the 19th of April. 
It is very common about the bushes and rushes on 
the banks of the river Tone and of all its little 
tributary streams. 
The food of the Sedge Warbler consists of various 
aquatic and other insects, to which Yarrell says 
worms and slugs may be added. 
Yarrell says the nest is frequently placed at or 
near the bottom of a patch of thick coarse herbage: 
it is composed of moss at the bottom, grass and 
coarse bents at the sides, and thickly lined with 
hair. Meyer adds that it is always suspended—that 
