20(5 NATURAL HISTORY 



time mentioned, many hundreds of young wagtails on 

 the banks of the Cherwell, which almost covered the 



grass or sedge, in which it is so concealed that it is with difficulty found, 

 except by watching the old birds carrying food to their young ones ; or 

 when building, they may be seen carrying materials to construct their 

 nest. 



In a wild state these birds feed entirely on insects, such as flies, moths, 

 butterflies, spiders, ants, and their eggs, small beetles, and numerous 

 other sorts, so that in confinement they will frequently require insect 

 food. 



The Reed Warbler, (Salicaria arundinacea, SELB,) This is a very vari- 

 able bird in its colours, some being of a very pale colour, and others alto- 

 gether as dark, and those that are pale one season, frequently become 

 dark the ensuing one. It is a curious little lively bird, often known by 

 the name of reed wren. It generally makes its appearance with us in 

 the beginning of April, and leaves us in September, its early or late de- 

 parture seeming to depend a good deal on the warmth or coolness of the 

 season. It is a very merry bird, almost continually singing, and will 

 sing by night as well as day, sitting amongst the reeds, or in some bush 

 or tree near the water, where it feeds on the gnats and other insects that 

 frequent moist situations. It is very fond of flies, spiders, small cater- 

 pillars, moths, grasshoppers, crickets, and many other insects, and will 

 swallow a larger one than could be imagined for so small a bird. 



In confinement, it will feed readily on the general food, but is also very 

 fond of the yolk of an egg boiled hard, so that it may be crumbled on the 

 top of the other food, or put in the cage in an empty egg-shell ; it should 

 also be occasionally supplied with a few insects, such as flies, spiders, 

 small caterpillars, moths, or butterflies. Being an inhabitant of the sides 

 of ditches and rivers, it is very partial to washing, which it must not be 

 allowed to do in winter, or it will wash itself until it is so weak that it 

 may never recover. 



The Sedge IFarbler, (Salicaria Phragmitis, SELB.) In habit and manner, 

 the present species approaches to the former, but is a much handsomer 

 bird, though not so rare. It frequents the sides of ditches, ponds, and 

 rivers, like the last species, where it pours forth its variable diurnal and 

 nocturnal song almost incessantly, on its first arrival to this country, 

 which is generally the beginning of April. It leaves us again about the 

 middle of September. It builds its nest in a thicket of reeds, or other 

 tall water-grass, on which it is fastened with the webs of caterpillars, 

 similar to that of the former, which is bound to the branches of trees so 

 that no wind or storm can move it. 



The song of the present species is somewhat similar to that of the last, 

 but is more shrill and chattering. Some people prefer it to that of 

 the reed bird, but I do not, as it wants several tine deep notes that the 

 other possesses. It is also an imitative bird, its song being intermixed 

 with the call of the sparrow, and parts of the songs of other birds. Its 

 food is precisely the same as that of the last species, and in confinement 

 the treatment for both must be exactly alike. 



