THE SEDGE WARBLER. 



57 



Rennie has observed this bird on Blackheath, suspended 

 over a furze, and singing on the wing like a Whitethroat 

 or Titlark, as early as the end of February. Gould men- 

 tions that he has obtained specimens at all seasons ; and 

 Montagu relates that he observed a pair of these birds with 

 young which had quitted the nest, and were skulking 

 amongst the thick furze, as early as the 10th of May. 

 ' The artifices these little creatures made to induce us to 

 follow them, in order to entice us from the spot, were highly 

 amusing ; their usual cry was changed into a scream of dis- 

 tress ; they would almost suffer the hand to touch them, 

 and then fall from the spray, and tumble along the ground, 

 as if fluttering in their last struggle for existence.' 



SEDGE \VARBLER. 



THE SEDGE WARBLER (Calamoherpe phragmitis) is also 

 called the Sedge Bird and the Sedge Wren or Reedling. 

 It is about five inches and a half long, rather more than 

 seven in the extent of its wings ; the head slender, and 

 bill pointed, and tail wedge or lancet-shaped ; the whole 

 well fitted for gliding between the tall aquatic plants 

 among which it chiefly resides and finds its food. Colour 

 of plumage : upper part of the head brownish black, the 

 feathers edged with light brown ; back and wing coverts 

 light olive brown tinged with yellow ; rump light reddish 



