72 



GEASSHOPPEE WAEBLEE. 



CRICKET BIKD. 



PLATE CXIV. PIG. II. 



Sylvia locustella, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



Curruca locustella, FLEMING. 



Salicaria locustella, SELBT. 



Locustella avicula, G-OULD. RAT. 



THE nest, of a cup shape, is formed in a rather firm manner of 

 reeds or grass, with sometimes a little moss, lined with finer portions 

 of the same. It is difficult to find, owing to the careful habits of 

 the bird, and is placed on the ground, and has been met with at the 

 foot of a small bush by the road side; it is completely hidden in the 

 middle of some large tuft, through which there is no entrance but 

 such as the bird threads for herself, creeping along like a mouse to 

 and into it. 



The eggs are from five or six to seven in number, of a pale reddish 

 white colour, freckled all over with specks of darker red; they seldom 

 vary much. 



The young soon quit the nest on being disturbed, trusting by instinct 

 to their habitual powers of concealment. 



