82 GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 



GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 



CRICKET BIRD. 

 PLATE CXIV. - FIGURE II. 



Sylvia locustella, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



Curruca locustella, FLEMING. 



Salicaria locustella, SELBY. 



Locustella avicula, GOULD. RAY. 



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 con- 

 cealment. 



