SEDGE WARBLER 



SEDGE BIRD SEDGE WREN REED FAUVETTE. 



PLATE CXVI. 



Acrocephalus phragmitis, . . . BECHSTEIN. 



Sylvia phragmitis, .... TEMMINCK. 



Salicaria phragmitis, .... YARRELL. 



Calamoherpe phragmitis, . . . MACGILLIVRAY. 



THE nest of the Sedge Warbler is sometimes placed at 

 about two, and never at a greater height than three 

 or four feet from the ground, on a stump of a willow or 

 alder tree, but generally among the tall grass or flags that 

 grow along the side of the river or pool. In the north of 

 England, the Rev. H. A. Macpherson says that it shows a 

 much greater predilection for nesting in hedgerows at a 

 distance from water than is common in the south. The 

 nest is made of moss, stalks of grass, and other smaller 

 plants, lined with finer parts of the same and hair : it is 

 rather large, and but loosely put together. 



The eggs, generally five to six in number, are of a 

 pale yellowish-brown colour, marked with light brown and 

 dull grey. They are usually closely freckled all over, and 

 often streaked at the large end with dark hair-lines : they 

 vary considerably. Mr. Heysham mentions a nest which 

 contained three quite white. Sometimes they are uniform 

 dull yellow : they are laid early in May. 



