12 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



a more easterly direction on the spring migration, 

 in those years in which it is scantily represented 

 with us. 



When crossing Newbiggan Fell, one bright May 

 morning, about 7 a.m., we saw upwards of a dozen 

 Grasshopper Warblers at once, all in the act of utter- 

 ing their peculiar cry from the topmost sprigs of 

 some tall heather. 



Mr. Hodgson informs us that, on one occasion, 

 he observed a " flock " of Grasshopper Warblers, 

 evidently newly arrived, on a bank of gorse near 

 Kirkbride, April 23rd, 1868. 



The following are extracts from Mr. W. Duck- 

 worth's note-books ; — 



"May 6th, 1881, 8 p.m. While coming up one 

 of the Stainton lanes to-night, I heard the peculiar 

 note of the Grasshopper Warbler. The sound ap- 

 parently came from a thin hawthorn hedge, with a 

 rough bottom ; and I thought it would be a good 

 opportunity of testing the supposed ventriloquism of 

 the bird. After marking the place, I crept quietly 

 on hands and feet until I was just opposite the bird, 

 which I could distinctly see sitting on a lower branch 

 of the hawthorn on the further side. Here I re- 

 mained for fully a quarter of an hour, while all the 

 time the bird kept uttering its sibilant note, some- 

 times so low that you could hardly catch it, at others 

 loud and clear. This fully settled in my own mind 

 what I had long suspected, that the supposed ven- 

 triloquism was merely due to the bird's great com- 

 mand over its voice, and its long range from p. p. p. 

 to f f. f , aided by the motion of its head." 



