384 PARIES. 



near the ground, on the margin of the dikes, in the fen ; 

 sometimes fixed among the reeds that are broken down, 

 but never suspended between the stems." 



A few years since I obtained two nests from the parish of 

 Horsey. These were both placed near the ground, being 

 sustained only an inch or two above the surface by the 

 strength of the stems of the coarse grass upon which they 

 were fixed. Each nest was composed entirely of dried 

 bents, the finer ones forming the lining, and others increas- 

 ing in substance made up the exterior. The eggs are from 

 four to six in number, rather smaller than those of the 

 Great Tit, and less pointed, eight lines and a half long by 

 six lines and a half in breadth, white, and sparingly marked 

 with pale red lines or scratches. 



Their food during winter, Mr. Hoy says, " is principally 

 the seed of the reed ; and so intent are they in searching 

 for it, that he has taken them with a bird-limed twig 

 attached to the end of a fishing-rod. When alarmed by 

 any sudden noise, or the passing of a Hawk, they utter 

 their shrill musical notes, and conceal themselves among the 

 thick bottoms of the reeds ; but soon resume their station, 

 climbing the upright stems with the greatest facility. I 

 have been enabled to watch their motions when in search 

 of insects, having, when there has been a little wind 

 stirring, been often within a few feet of them, quite un- 

 noticed, among the thick reeds." In the same volume of 

 the Magazine of Natural History, Mr. Dykes says, " having 

 lately had an opportunity of examining three specimens, I 

 found the crops completely filled with the Succinea amphibia 

 in a perfect state, the shells being unbroken. These shells 

 were singularly closely packed together ; the crop of one, 

 which was not larger than a hazel nut, containing twenty, 

 and some of them of a good size ; it contained also four of 



