The Bird that Mimics the Grasshopper 



THIS shy, restless bird, often heard through the day 

 and night on commons in summer, but seldom seen, 

 is a mouse-like little creature, dusky olive-brown, 

 mottled in effect, above, with pale yellowish-brown 

 throat and breast. It comes to us in primrose days 

 and leaves with the first touch of autumn. 



The voice of this curious bird mimics an insect, and 

 is well likened to* the running out of a fisherman's reel. 

 Faint at first, the curious sound grows louder, the 

 whirring ceasing when the bird has the least suspicion 

 of an intruder. 



The nest to which the little bird creeps may be in a 

 tuft of grass, and is built of grass, and cup-shaped. 

 There are from five to seven eggs, whitish, spotted all 

 over with specks of reddish brown'. 



The grasshopper warbler is almost alone among 

 birds in making a little run to its nest. Sometimes it 

 will run out of its retreat along a branch until it reaches 

 the end, there sing its whirring song, and then, like 

 a concert-singer leaving the platform, silently run 

 back to hiding. It seems that its aim in life is to be as 

 puzzling and deceptive as possible. 



65 



