290 



LAKES AND STREAMS 



or amid reeds. From the middle of May until well on into June it may contain 



four or live eggs, from which the 

 young are hatched, if not disturbed, 

 in about thirteen days, the young 

 birds only leaving the nest when 

 fully fledged. The sedge warbler 

 will creep through the densest under- 

 wood, and run swiftly up and down 

 any stem, but when at rest and un- 

 disturbed, perches with its neck sunk 

 In tween the shoulders and drooping 

 tail, rarely coming out into the open. 

 While singing, it changes from one 

 bush to another about ten yards away, 

 fluttering about in the air until it 

 drops down in a slanting direction, 

 the peculiar action causing it to clap 

 the tips of its wings together and then 

 drop to its perch. Besides water-insects, 

 which the bird catches as they hop, and 

 seldom as they fly, the sedge warbler feeds 

 on worms and slugs and elder-berries. Its 

 song contains a particularly characteristic 

 passage — a ltnig-drawn, flute-like shake, 

 which sinks gradually some three tones 

 lower. 



The favourite haunt of 

 the marsh warbler (A. pal- 

 ustris) is among low -growing willow- 

 bushes and underwood mingled with reeds ; 

 but this bird will also frequent any garden 

 through which flows a stream bordered 

 with bushes and aquatic plants, although 

 avoiding large continuous thickets of reeds, 

 and preferring marshy, moderately over- 

 grown places. The marsh warbler is about 

 5i inches long ; its plumage being similar 

 to that of the reed warbler but rather 

 more olive on the back, with the breast 

 white, tinged with sulphur-buff, the eyes 

 hazel, and the legs flesh - colour. The 

 song is rich in a variety of passages re- 

 sembling that of the garden warbler, which 

 it much excels in the variety and softness 

 of its notes : so loud, indeed, is the melody 

 that it can be heard, especially at night, at a great distance. As the song is 



Marsh Warbler. 



SEDGE WARBLER. 



