iv The Marsh Warbler 91 



Warbler ; it was of a greenish white ground-colour, 

 with many dull purplish spots and blotches, especially 

 at the larger end. But our anxieties were even now 

 hardly at an end ; for it was Sunday, the day on 

 which the predatory ploughboy roams afield in quest 

 of eggs, and to him a Marsh Warbler's egg is all 

 the same as a Sparrow's. By this time too there 

 were naturally traces of our doings at the entrance to 

 the osiers, quite obvious enough to attract his 

 attention. It was, in fact, absolutely necessary to 

 set a watch. We divided the day between ourselves 

 and a friendly gardener ; the rector of the parish, who 

 was also interested in the discovery, taking a turn as 

 sentinel in the afternoon. The railway afforded us 

 an excellent vantage-ground, and there we marched 

 up and down like sentinels on a rampart, occasion- 

 ally varying our duty with a search for other nests. 

 At last the evening of that long hot day arrived, and 

 we were able to depart in peace. 



Macpherson had to return to London by the early 

 train next morning ; but we previously held a 

 council, at which it was decided to take the nest at 

 once, partly because it would be welcome to the 

 Oxford Museum, partly because it would be no longer 

 safe from the village boys, as I was about to go 

 abroad. So in the morning of the 26th a procession 

 started for the osier-bed, consisting of the rector, his 

 family, and myself, fully armed with everything 



