REED WARBLER. 271 



twice in each twenty-four hours. The nest is formed of the 

 seed-branches of the reeds and very long grass, wound hori- 

 zontally round and round, including the four upright reeds in 

 the substance ; thus forming, with a little wool, the sides of 

 the nest, which frequently measures five inches in depth on 

 the outside, three inches in breadth across the top, and 

 very frequently three inches deep inside ; the lining is 

 formed of very fine grass and long hairs. The nest is made 

 so deep that the eggs do not roll out when the supporting 

 reeds are waved by the wind ; and Montagu observes, that 

 he has seen the bird sitting on her nest when every gust 

 forced it almost to the surface of the water. 



Among the various nests sent me by Mr. J. D. Salmon, 

 was a very beautifully constructed one of this bird, as de- 

 scribed to have been found amongst the reeds adjoining 

 the river near Euston Bridge ; which nest contained four eggs 

 on the 30th of June 1834. This bird sometimes lays five 

 eggs, which are of a greenish white colour, spotted and 

 freckled with ash-green and light brown ; the length nine 

 lines, by six lines and a half in breadth. The young are 

 hatched in July, and quit the nest very soon, hanging and 

 climbing with perfect security among the reeds by their very 

 sharp claws. 



The Reed Warbler is found in Essex, Surrey, and Kent, 

 within a few miles of London ; it is found also in Suffolk, 

 about Sudbury. In Norfolk, one locality has been men- 

 tioned ; and the large fresh waters called the Broads, near 

 Yarmouth, with their numerous islands, reeds, and rank 

 aquatic herbage, are very likely situations to harbour it. Mr. 

 Selby mentions that he had not observed this bird north of 

 Northamptonshire : it has now been observed in Staffordshire, 

 Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire ; but not beyond, that I am 

 aware of. 



Montagu says it was numerous in the southern parts of 



