72 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



greatest alarm^ flitting from branch to branch, and uttering 

 unceasingly a note resembhng the syllable " churr/' repeated 

 over and over again with the greatest rapidity. 



The nest is formed of the very finest bents of dried stalks, 

 generally of umbelliferous plants, with the hairs of horses 

 and cattle, and is placed in the middle of the thickest 

 bushes. 



GARDEN-WARBLER. 



Sylvia salicaria. 



The Garden-Warbler arrives late, and does not make itself 

 heard in the Weald earlier than the end of April. It is a 

 very shy and retiring bird, being much more often heard 

 than seen. In my own neighbourhood it generally, at first, 

 conceals itself in low bushes in copses and hedgerows, or in 

 shrubberies, and it is not till it has been some time in the 

 country that its notes are heard from the tops of the oaks 

 and other high trees. In fact I do not think it is heard 

 much before the hen is sitting on its nest. From that time 

 it continues to sing from the tops of the trees till the end of 

 July or the beginning of August. It is very fond of fruit, 

 for which it enters our gardens, and pays special attention 

 to the cherries, whence it has obtained the name of " Cherry- 

 sucker;" it feeds also on many other berries, especially 

 those of the ivy, the privet, and the elder. It builds a rather 

 slight-looking nest, though firmly put together, and consist- 

 ing of the lightest dried grass and goose-grass, lined with 

 cow^s hair and a little wool. 



To my mind, its song, though often much more continuous, 

 is not so attractive as that of the Blackcap, nor does it con- 

 clude with the clear flute-like notes of that species. The 



