THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
The deep, cup-shaped nest may either be built hammock- 
wise amongst the reed stems or suspended from one or 
two thin’ twigs, at a height of a few inches or several 
feet from the water, over which it is usually made. ‘The 
materials are woven round several reed stems or twigs, 
and consist of dead grass and various aquatic herbs, leaves 
of last year’s reeds, bits of moss, and roots, lined with finer 
grass and roots, a little hair, and sometimes particles of 
vegetable down, or even a few feathers. ‘The four or five 
eggs are pale greenish blue, spotted and blotched with 
greenish brown, pale brown, and grey, with occasionally 
a few dark hair-like lines or freckles. ‘The old birds be- 
come very restless and scolding if their nest be menaced. 
But one brood is reared, often after several attempts, 
and the return migration takes place in September. 
The food of this Warbler is almost if not entirely com- 
posed of insects and larve, such as haunt the waterside, 
but its frequent visits to gardens may be for the smaller 
fruits. Although it flies in an apparently feeble and 
hesitating manner its powers of wing must of course be 
very considerable to enable it successfully to cross the 
seas twice each year. 
The adult Reed Warbler is olive-brown above, with a 
perceptible tinge of rufous on the rump, the pale eye- 
stripe very indistinct, and pale buff below, becoming 
nearly white on the throat and centre of the belly. Bill 
dark brown above, pale brown below; tarsi and toes 
greyish brown ; irides brown. Length 54 inches. 
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