THE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 113 



few yards off. I fancied that while actually singing its 

 feathers were ruffled ; but in the imperfect twilight I could 

 not decide positively. That it kept its mandibles motion- 

 less while singing, I had no doubt. Half an hour after- 

 wards, at a quarter to eight, I returned from my walk, and 

 observed it several times go through precisely the same 

 manoeuvres. On no occasion did it make a long flight, 

 but even when I scared it by throwing a stone into the 

 hedge near it, it merely dropped to the ground, and in a 

 minute or two was piping from another bush, I have 

 not found, as some authors say, that it resorts only to the 

 vicinity of watery places. The one which I saw on this 

 occasion had located itself for the summer several miles 

 from a stream ; and others which I have heard night after 

 night had settled down on the skirts of a dry common, 

 watered only by the clouds. Its nest I have sought for 

 in vain. 



SAYTS WAEBLEE. 



SALICARIA LUSCINOIDES. 



Upper plumage reddish brown ; tail indi?tinctly marked with darker bands ; 

 chin and throat whitish ; breast pale brown, becoming darker towards the tail. 

 Length five and a half inches. 



A VERY few specimens of this bird have been observed 

 in the British Islands, though, from the similarity of its 

 habits to those of the Grasshopper Warbler, it is possible 

 that it may have escaped the notice of unskilled observers. 

 It has been found in Italy, France, Malta, and Sicily ; but 

 appears to be nowhere common. The Rev. James Brown, 

 who obtained one in the marshes near JSTorwich, states that 

 his specimen was sitting on the upper part of a reed^ 

 uttering its note, which was not unlike that of the Grass- 

 hopper Warbler, and that when disturbed it ceased to sing, 

 and dropped do^vn among the thick herbage, but soon 

 reascended to its former station and recommenced its song. 



