100 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



ontbursting song of the Reed Warbler has a peculiar charm, telling of 

 life and happiness, where all else suggests to the mind ideas of gloom, 

 decay, and death. 



The nest of this bird is generally placed in the centre of a group 

 of rushes, at the height of about three feet from the surface of the 

 water; the materials of the exterior, blades and stalks of grass, are 

 twined and interlaced around the stems of four or five rushes, in such 

 a manner as to securely hold the structure in its place; the interior 

 cavity is deep, and lined with fine grass, hair, and wool. Here, well 

 sheltered and concealed, the young are reared, the wind performing 

 the part of nurse as far as rocking the cradle goes. The eggs aro 

 usually four or five in number, of a greenish white colour, spotted 

 and freckled with ash green and light brown. 



Towards the end of autumn these birds may sometimes be seen in 

 gardens and about houses, searching for insects, worms, and slugs; 

 Sweet states they are particularly fond of house flies, and may readily 

 bo caught in traps baited with small moths or green caterpillars. 



The adult male is about five inches and a half in length, and 

 weighs nearly three drachms. The irides are chesnut brown; the 

 upper mandible of a pale brown, and the nnder yellowish white, and 

 brown towards the end. The plumage of the upper parts is of a 

 "Wlform pale reddish brown colour, with a tinge of chesnut; the quill 

 feathers are darker brown. The chin and throat are white, and the 

 breast and lower parts pale greyish yellow; the legs, toes, and claws 

 pale brown. The fernalo is rather smaller than the male, but of a 

 similar colour. 



IN CONFINEMENT. 



TUB Stonechat should not be introduced into the aviary in an adult 

 state, as it is almost certain to pine, refuse food, and die, but the 

 young may often be reared, with care and attention. They must at 

 first be fed on ants' eggs, but as they grow older, bruised hemp seed 

 and bread, with very small pieces of lean raw beef or mutton, mixed 

 together into a moist paste, will suit them well. All kinds of insects 

 may be given them as often as they can be procured, and eggs boiled 

 hard and chopped very fine form a wholesome occasional change. The 

 kind ot cagj recommended by Bechstein for these and other sylvan 



