OUR RARER BRITISH BREEDING BIRDS. 133 



in the way of identification, and are not likely 

 to be mistaken for those of any other British 

 bird. 



WARBLER, REED. 



THE Keed - Warbler is by no means a rare bird, 

 and may be heard late most summer evenings 

 rattling off its loud and hurriedly-delivered notes 

 on the banks of sluggish rivers, canals, reservoirs, 

 meres, and broads, particularly in the eastern and 

 midland portions of England. It certainly breeds 

 as far north as Yorkshire, where I have seen its 

 nest, and is said to do so sparingly on the banks of 

 the Tyne and in Cumberland. In Wales it is rare. 



Its nest is as a rule beautifully constructed, 

 and suspended between the stems of three or 

 four reeds at varying heights above the surface 

 of the water. Occasionally it may be found 

 attached to the slender branches of willows and 

 other trees growing close to water. The bird 

 appears to make two distinct types of nest. I 

 have seen some with such a deep foundation that 

 they looked like an inverted cone, and others 

 where this was entirely dispensed with, as in the 

 case of our illustration, which was secured on the 

 shores of the Cam not far from Cambridge. 



The nest is composed of long blades of dead 

 grass, leaves of reeds, roots, and wool, with an 

 interior lining of fine grass and hair. It is, as 

 necessitated by its situation, very deep, so that 

 when the reeds to which it is attached are 

 violently swayed to and fro by strong winds, the 

 eggs do not roll out. The bird is often victimised 

 by the Cuckoo. 



