200 SYLVIADJL 



thick and strong. The Sedge Warbler is a summer 

 visitor to this country, arriving in April and leaving again 

 in September ; but on one occasion a single specimen was 

 observed near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire in 

 winter. Immediately on its arrival it takes to thick cover 

 by the waterside, and is much more frequently heard than 

 seen; though it may occasionally be observed flitting on 

 the uppermost twigs of the willows it inhabits, giving 

 rapid utterance to a succession of notes as it flies from one 

 branch to another. White of Selborne appears to have 

 first made Pennant acquainted with this species, and with 

 his usual acuteness detailed the habits of the bird, par- 

 ticularly remarking its power of imitating the notes of 

 other birds, and its singing at night. The observations 

 of others in various localities have confirmed the accu- 

 racy of his remarks ; and the Sedge Warbler, in the 

 situations it frequents, may be heard throughout the day 

 and frequently during a summer night, imitating the notes 

 of various birds in a somewhat confused and hurried man- 

 ner; and should he desist for a few minutes 1 rest, it is 

 only necessary to throw a stone or a clod of dirt among 

 the bushes, and he will immediately commence a series of 

 repetitions, but seldom quits his covered retreat. 



Worms, slugs, and various aquatic insects are the food 

 of this bird. 



The nest of the Sedge Warbler has frequently been con- 

 founded with that of the Reed Warbler ; but it is usually 

 placed much nearer the ground, and seldom depends on 

 reeds for its support. It is frequently placed at or near 

 the bottom of a patch of thick coarse herbage. One nest 

 now before me is composed externally of moss at the 

 bottom ; the sides are of grass and coarse bents ; the inside 

 rather deep, and thickly lined with hairs. The eggs are 



