THE LAST WEEK IN MARCH 26 
weaving the hairs and fibres round the twigs, 
thus securely fixing the structure so that it 
defied the months of storm and snow and 
hail of the past winter.1 
The Sedge-Warbler is not the only small 
bird that makes long-lasting nests. One 
often finds those of blackbirds, thrushes, 
chaffinches and hedge-sparrows that have 
lasted one or even two winters, though not 
used by the birds after the first brood. But 
the strength of ¢hzs little dainty thin nest is 
remarkable. Its consistency is frail G@ndeed 
one can almost see through it), and it has 
been described as ‘loose and slovenly’ ; 
but for all that it holds very well together. 
From observations we have made, and the 
nests we have found of this bird, we think 
the sedge-warbler is a very late nester. It 
may be found building even well into July ; 
1 The nests of sedge-and reed-warblers can always 
be known by observing if the materials are twisted 
and woven round the supports. As reeds and sedges 
have no forks, this is the only method by which the 
nest can be supported when built amongst them. 
(See Part 1, p. 60.) 
