THE MARSH WARBLER. 



moss intermixed on the outside with an 

 inner lining of fine dead grass, and nearly 

 always contains one or two black horse- 

 hairs. It is not so neatly finished as 

 that of the Reed Warbler, and is gener- 

 ally suspended amongst nettles, Meadow 

 Sweet, and Mugwood, the last plant 

 appearing, where I have studied the 

 species, to be first favourite. 



The eggs, numbering from four to 

 seven, are easily distinguished from those 

 of the Reed Warbler by their lighter 

 ground colour, which is greenish-white 

 to greenish-blue clouded with underlying 

 markings of grey and spotted with olive- 

 brown. 



It is as a singer of great sweet- 

 ness and power, however, that the 

 bird chiefly concerns us in this little 

 work. 



Last summer I spent several days in 

 the West of England studying the species, 

 and whilst I was lying hidden with my 

 camera within three feet of a nest, had 

 many opportunities of hearing the ex- 

 quisite song of the male to perfection. 

 Whilst the hen was sitting on the nest 

 he frequently took up his station on a 

 bramble spray just above and partly 

 behind her, and regaled us both with the 

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