CHATS AND WARBLERS. 97 



The food of this bird consists of the insects to be met with in 

 swampy districts, which it pursues on the wing, and of worms and 

 sings. Its nest is usually placed near tho ground, among reeds, willows, 

 or coarse herbage, and is often compo^d of stalks of grass and other 

 slender plants, and lined with finer grass and hair, but the material 

 varies with the locality; one found by Mr. Weir in a whin bush, was 

 formed of moss and straw. It is generally bulky and loosely constructed, 

 although neat and shapely. The eggs, five or six in number, are of a 

 pale yellowish brown colour, slightly mottled with light brown and 

 dull grey; some have been found, however, nearly white, and others 

 of a dull yellow; they are hatched towards the end of May or the 

 beginning of June. The female sits very close, and will allow a person 

 to pass quite near to the nest without moving. During the breeding 

 season it is a difficult matter to catch a sight of either of the birds, 

 as they seek their food among the reeds, and rarely fly high into the 

 air, or perch in conspicuous places. "To observe the habits of this 

 bird, and to gain a competent knowledge of its way of life," says the 

 enthusiastic author of the "British Song Birds," "it is necessary to 

 lie down amongst the grass and aquatic plants, as the Sedge Warbler 

 is so extremely shy and timid, that the moment you enter within its 

 territories it darts down into the midst of the thickest foliage the 

 place affords, and is no more seen as long as you remain near the 

 spot, though it will favour you with its song, even if you approach 

 within two or three yards of the bird. It is true that it may not be 

 very pleasant to lie down on one's back for half an hour in the marshy 

 places frequented by these birds, and might appear preposterous to a 

 common person, yet the ornithologist considers it no inconvenience, 

 and indeed scarce bestows a thought on his situation while engaged 

 in studying the manners of his feathered friends." Few of our readers 

 will probably care to run the risk of a severe attack of rheumatism 

 by following the directions here given, and we can scarcely blame 

 them; a considerable amount of information respecting the habits of 

 these and other birds may be gained, however, in a more agreeable 

 manner, by means of a good field-glass. Water-rats, weasels, and other 

 nocturnal brigands, sometimes make sad havoc in the nests of the 

 Sedge Warblers/ destroying both the eggs and the young birds, and 

 sometimes even attacking the adults, when they have composed them- 

 selves for slumber. 



This species resembles the Grasshopper Warbler, both in form and 

 habits, but may be distinguished therefrom by a broad yellowish white 

 band, which extends from the bill over the eye. The male weighs 

 about three drachms, and is nearly four inches and a half in length; 



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