122 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Family TURDID^. Genus LOCUSTELLA. 



Sub-family SYLVIIN^E. 



GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 



LOCUSTELLA LOCUSTELLA (Latham). 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, May and June. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA : The Grasshopper Warbler 

 is very widely distributed throughout England and 

 Wales, breeding more or less commonly in every county. 

 In Scotland it becomes rarer and more local, chiefly 

 being found in the counties south of the Forth valley ; 

 but it breeds sparingly here and there as far north as 

 Skye. In Ireland it is also widely distributed but 

 somewhat local, and chiefly confined to the eastern and 

 southern counties. 



BREEDING HABITS : The Grasshopper Warbler arrives 

 in our islands towards the end of April or early in May. 

 Its favourite haunts are amongst tangled thickets and 

 brushwood, either in plantations, spinneys, or coppices, 

 in fens, or on commons. It may also frequently be met 

 with in tangled hedge-bottoms, especially those where 

 ditches are made beside them, and haunts the gorse 

 coverts and thickets near the moors, and even the 

 brambles and briars upon their wide expanse. The bird 

 is a most skulking little creature, rarely seen, but in- 

 variably detected by the thrilling chirping song, like 

 that of the grasshopper, only louder and more prolonged. 

 The birds pair soon after their arrival. Like other 

 marsh Warblers the present species may be found in 

 some numbers within a small area of suitable ground, 

 but no social tendencies are evinced, especially after 

 nest-building commences. The nest is either built upon 

 the ground or only a short distance above it. It is 

 frequently placed under brushwood, amongst tall, rank 



