62 FAMILIAR WILD BTRBS. 



regular visitor to the north and south of Ireland, but in 

 Scotland it would appear to be uncommon. 



The Grasshopper Warbler_, although tolerably well dis- 

 tributed in the localities above mentioned, is by no means 

 familiarly known, as its habits are shy and cautious, and, 

 as a rule, it carefully conceals itself among the grass and 

 bushes of its haunts. 



The food consists of flies, gnats, beetles, and any small 

 insects, grass slugs and hoppers, and small snails. In 

 seardhing for food, the bird creeps quietly along the bottom 

 of hedges, patches of furze, clumps of sedge, and tall grass. 

 So quiet and unobtrusive are its movements, that the 

 casual passer-by would either fail to notice it at all, or 

 would imagine that it was a field-mouse popping in and 

 out of the herbage. It runs with great nimbleness, and 

 climbs slender reeds with ease and dexterity. It has a 

 very noticeable habit of jerking up the tail when on the 

 ground. Occasionally the Grasshopper Warbler may be 

 seen perched upon the lower branches of a tree or shrub ; 

 but it must be approached with considerable caution, as it 

 resents anything like famiHarity, and immediately secretes 

 itself from view. Mr. Yarrell says : ^' During the breeding 

 season, Avhen bushes and shrubs are clothed with leaves, it 

 is difficult to obtain a sight of this bird ; yet when near 

 its haunt its note rings on the ear constantly, about sunset 

 particularly, and sometimes even during the night.^' 



The call note, according to Naumann, is a ticy tic, 

 somewhat resembling the sound produced by knocking two 

 stones together, but it must be very soft or not often 

 uttered. The note is very perplexing as to the exact spot 

 whence it proceeds ; indeed, the ventriloquial quality of 

 the voice is one of its most remarkable characteristics, 



