BIRDS OF THE COMMONS 59 



GRASSHOPPER WARBLER (Locustella ncevia). 



April to September. Found pretty generally through- 

 out Great Britain, but more local in Scotland. 



Haunts. — Both dry and marshy ground, copses, 

 choked ditches, wild commons, and wastes. 



Observation. — When close to this bird, note spots on 

 neck and breast and slight bars on tail. 



Plumage. — Feathers of neck and breast whitish, with 

 dark centres ; upper parts light olive-brown, each feather 

 having a dark centre ; under parts pale brown. Abdo- 

 men lighter. Tail brown and slightly barred. Bill 

 brownish above and yellowish below. Legs yellowish 

 brown. Length 5 in. Female almost similar, but 

 lacking spots on neck and breast. Young, more buffy 

 on under parts. 



Language. — Song : much resembling the stridulous 

 noise of the grasshopper (hence its name). There is no 

 music in it. It is a thin, monotonous burring, not unlike 

 an angler's reel being wound up at great speed. This 

 " song " is persistently uttered, and may be heard at 

 night. Another note, " tzic-tzic-tzac." 



Habits. — It usually comes to the top of some spray to 

 deliver the song, when the body quivers as though an 

 electric current were running through it. When 

 alarmed it at once glides into the tangle like a mouse, 

 and skulks. Extremely difficult to observe. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, spiders ; also soft 

 fruits and berries. 



Nest. — May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. — In thick tuft of grass on or near the ground, at 

 bottom of furze bush, etc. ; most carefully concealed. 



Materials. — Dry grass, dead leaves and moss lined with 

 fine grasses and fibres. 



Eggs. — Five to seven. Pinkish white, well speckled 

 with reddish brown ; often zoned. 



