SEDGE-WAHBLER. 377 



more frequently heard than seen ; though, with patience, 

 it may be observed flitting on the uppermost twigs of the 

 bushes it inhabits, giving rapid utterance to a succession of 

 notes as it flies from one branch to another. Pennant, 

 aided by White of Selborne, between 1766 and 1769, 

 discovered this species in England, though both seem to 

 have erroneously referred it to the " Lesser Eeed- Sparrow " 

 of Ray (Synops. Av. p. 47), which is probably the Reed- 

 Wren ; but White with his usual acuteness described correctly 

 the habits and appearance of the bird, particularly remark- 

 ing its power of imitating the notes of other species, and 

 its singing at night. Later observations in various loca- 

 lities have confirmed the accuracy of his remarks ; and 

 the cock Sedge-Warbler may be heard throughout the day 

 and frequently during a summer's night, imitating the 

 notes of various birds in a somewhat confused and hurried 

 manner : should he desist for a few minutes' rest, it is only 

 necessary to throw a stone or a clod among the bushes, and 

 he will immediately commence a series of repetitions, but 

 seldom quits his covered retreat. 



The nest of the Sedge-bird was formerly often confounded 

 with that of the Reed- Wren ; but, as is now well known, 

 it is usually placed much nearer the ground, is built in a 

 very different fashion, and does not depend on reeds for its 

 support, being commonly placed at or near the bottom of a 

 patch of thick, coarse herbage. It is generally composed 

 externally of moss at the bottom ; w r hile the walls are of 

 grass and coarse bents ; and the inside, which is rather 

 deep, is thickly lined with hairs ; but some nests are lined 

 with portions of umbelliferous plants. The eggs are five or 

 six in number, measuring from '74 to *67 by from *55 to 

 48 in., but one from a nest in which all were of about the 

 same exceptional size measures only -52 by -37 in. They 

 are of a pale yellowish-brown, generally suifused or clouded, 

 but sometimes slightly mottled with darker brown, and not 

 unfrequently streaked with short hair-like lines of black. 

 They are hatched at the end of May or early in June. 



The marshy banks of nearly every river or stream in the 

 VOL. i. 3 c 



