246 IN BIRD-LAND 



rattling cry of the Blackbird the latter being quite 

 realistically rendered while the Whitethroat and 

 Sparrow's notes also added variety to the perform- 

 ance. Then between all of these various cries and 

 call-notes, the Sedge- Warbler's own- song, chizzick, 

 chizzick, chiddy, chiddy, chiddy, chow, chozv, choiv, 

 and other pretty variations, which cannot easily be 

 expressed in writing, could be heard. There seems 

 to be no end to the imitative powers of this 

 songster, and some birds seem to be superior in 

 their singing to others, which is quite natural. 

 There used to be one at Winchmore Hill that 

 showed most striking powers of imitation, afford- 

 ing rare entertainment to those who heard its varied 

 notes. 



The Sedge- Warbler is more often heard than 

 seen, as it prefers to sing from the innermost 

 recesses of a bush. Still, some of the birds when 

 sitting are very confiding, others are correspond- 

 ingly shy. At one nest I waited with my camera 

 for a long time for the bird to return ; but had to 

 go away, to find out afterwards that the nest was 

 deserted owing/ no doubt, to the spectre of the 

 camera having frightened the occupant away. At 

 another nest the sitting bird was confiding enough 

 to allow one almost to touch her before she would 

 rise, so that I obtained a series of photographs of 



