THE CRADLE IN THE REEDS 123 



grasses were carried to the reeds, and 

 some of these were twisted round the 

 stems so that other grasses would lodge 

 on them. And as the little pile of 

 grasses grew, the female Reed-Warbler 

 stood on it, and slowly twisted round 

 and round, arranging the grasses with 

 her beak in a very clever manner. She 

 pushed them in and out, twisted some 

 together, and with her breast pressing 

 against the side, she made it a beautiful 

 cup-shape. The male bird brought the 

 grasses to her, and she did most of the 

 building. As the nest grew, the outside 

 grasses which were fastened to the reeds 

 were strengthened with cobwebs which 

 bound them still tighter to the four 

 stems supporting the nest. At the end 

 of a fortnight the nest was finished, and 

 a beautiful and neat home it was. The 

 birds had made it very deep considering 

 the small size of the nest, but they 

 knew that the winds would blow it 



