GEASSHOPPER WAEBLER. 63 



has in his collection a clutch of eg-gs taken at Water Eaton 

 about 1857 (^'^ ^^^•)y ^^^ -'- have heard it at Wootton, near 

 Woodstock. In the Chilterns it has been observed on one 

 occasion among the ling" and bracken by the Rev. B. D'O. 

 Aplin. On Wig-ginton Heath, where I have often heard it 

 singing among the broom, my brother and I procured a young 

 one in 1880, and three nests were discovered there in 1874 (C. 

 M. Prior). On Hanwell Heath I observed it in the years 1883, 

 84, 85, and 86. From this spot it strays into the meadows 

 below, apparently nestmg in the hay -grass. Some pairs seem 

 to breed casually in other localities in the north of the county, 

 and I have heard its song at Bloxham and Cropredy. Mr. 

 W. Warde Fowler has observed it on the edge of Bruern 

 Wood^ near Kingham, a charming account of its habits being 

 given in A Year tvith the Birds. 



The Grasshopper Warbler is one of the shyest of birds, 

 rarely leaving the thick cover during the daytime, but creeping 

 about among the furze or other bushes in a mouselike way. 

 Its curious song, which has been likened by some to the 

 chirrup emitted by the Grasshopper, but from which it may at 

 once be distinguished, is delivered in a continuous trill, pro- 

 ducing a sound somewhat similar to that given out when the 

 line is drawn rapidly off a fisherman^s brass reel. Except in 

 the early morning it is seldom heard before sunset, and for 

 some hours after in early summer the bird sings almost 

 incessantly, continuing even at midnight, the ^ reeling^ song 

 being heard at a considerable distance in a still summer night. 

 After dusk I have crept within a few yards of the bird in 

 thick furze and timed the spells of song to last nearly six 

 minutes, with only almost imperceptible breaks ; at a little 

 distance the trills appeared continuous. During the delivery 

 of its trill the bird's beak is opened to its widest stretch, the 

 mandibles remaining motionless. The ventriloquism in the 

 song of the Grasshopper Warbler, often remarked upon, 

 appears to be due to the bird turning its head slowly round 



