ii8 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



In Scotland no reliable instances of its breeding are 

 known ; whilst its summer range does not extend to 

 Ireland. 



BREEDING HABITS : The principal summer haunts of 

 the Reed Warbler are large reed beds, and the fringe of 

 that vegetation which skirts the banks of canals, slow- 

 running rivers, and dykes. It is also to be met with in 

 osier beds, clumps of willow and alder trees, and brush- 

 wood of all kinds growing near the water. Instances 

 are on record of this species even frequenting gardens. 

 The Reed Warbler is not gregarious nor even social, but 

 numbers of pairs may be met with in a very small area, 

 each, however, keeping to a particular spot, from which 

 they jealously drive intruders. The birds pair soon 

 after their arrival, the various nesting-places being 

 selected apparently with much noisy song and vigorous 

 scolding, but the period of nesting depends a good deal 

 on the state of the weather. If the season is warm and 

 early, nest-building commences in May ; if cold and 

 backward, not before the beginning of June. The nest 

 is either made amongst the reeds, or in the slender 

 branches of willows and alders overhanging the water. 

 Occasionally it has been met with in hedges by the 

 water-side. It is built at varying heights from the 

 ground, or rather water, often not 'more than six or 

 eight inches from it, sometimes as low as three feet, 

 at others as much as six, ten, or twelve feet above it. 

 The nests in reeds are suspended between three or four 

 stems, whilst those in thickets are slung from several 

 slender twigs, the materials being woven round each in 

 turn. They are deep, well-made structures, composed 

 principally of dry sedgy grass, broad dead leaves of the 

 reeds, and roots, and lined with finer roots, sometimes a 

 feather or two, and a little hair. Some nests often con- 

 tain a little moss, bits of wool, and vegetable down. In 



