THE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 



vigilant, shy, and timid, and the slight- 

 est disturbance sends it instantly into 

 hiding amongst the thickest vegetation 

 it can find. 



Upon his arrival in the spring the 

 male bird commences his queer, shrill 

 song, which sounds something like that 

 of a grasshopper, hence the popular name 

 given to the species. 



Whilst living in a house-boat on the 

 Norfolk Broads, studying Nature, I have 

 had many excellent opportunities of 

 observing the habits of this interesting 

 bird, and have often heard it singing at 

 night when the stars were reflected on 

 the dark, still water around me and not 

 a breath of wind stirred the balmy air. 

 The best time of all, however, to hear a 

 Grasshopper Warbler in full song is at 

 sunrise. When the first gleam of rosy 

 light tints the dead brown reeds with 

 coppery red and dewdrops twinkle on 

 every blade of grass, the bird mounts to 

 the topmost twig of some stunted alder 

 bush or blade of sedge, and standing 

 quite still, with widely opened mouth 

 and quivering body, pours forth his 

 strange song in one incessant stream. 

 Whilst the music lasts the head is turned 

 from side to side, and it is this action 

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