Their Eggs and Nests. 83 



peculiar chiding note. Many a lad, too, knows that 

 by shying a stone in near its haunt, its notes may be 

 elicited almost any hour in the night or day. I think 

 I have heard it sinmnfj on all throuc^h the niorht, and 

 notwithstanding the absence of any pretence at day- 

 light. Its nest is usually placed near the ground, in 

 the vicinity of more or less water, and is supported, 

 as well as concealed, by the coarse herbage. Made of 

 coarse grass stalks externally, and lined with finer 

 ones and hair, sometimes with a foundation of moss, 

 five or six eggs are deposited in its cup-shaped hollow, 

 of a pale brown colour, a little mottled with darker 

 brown. — Fig. Z, plate III. 



AQUATIC \^ K^'^'LYJ^—{Acrocephalus aquaticus). 



Only recorded as visiting England two or three 

 times. 



GRASSHOPPER WARBLER— (y^rr^f^///^/«.f 

 ncevius; formerl}^, Salicaria locus tt lid). 



A summer visitor, of shy and retired habits, and 

 very vigilant. Its note, very shrill and constantly re- 

 peated, reminding one of the Cricket or Grasshopper's 

 note, gains it its name. The nest is hard to find, and 

 unless the bird be very closely watched, it may bafiie 

 a good observer. It is placed in spots matted and 

 overhung with growth of grass or other herbage and 

 bushes ; is cup-shaped, made of coarse dry grass, with 

 finer within ; and contains sometimes as many as 

 seven eggs, of a pale pinky-white colour, freckled with 

 spots of a darker shade of red. — Fig. 2, plate IIL 



