GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 69 



Dorsetshire, near Kingsbridge, in Devonshire; Gloucestershire, 

 Cornwall, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cumberland, Northumberland, and 

 Durham; in Wiltshire on Malmesbury Common, Derbyshire, 

 Oxfordshire, and also in Wales. 



In Scotland it has been seen at Musselburgh, near Edin- 

 burgh; in Ayrshire, and in Galloway, at New Abbey. 



In Ireland also it is a regular summer visitant to suitable 

 localities from south to north. The neighbourhood of Belfast, 

 in the counties of Down and Antrim, Carrickfergus, Killaloe, 

 in the County Clare, Wexford, Clonmel, and Youghal, are 

 mentioned by the late William Thompson, Esq. among others. 



Resorting to the close shelter of hedges, underwood, sedgy 

 places, and thickets, this bird is for the most part out of 

 sight, and is chiefly visible in the morning. 



It is another of our migratory species, arriving in this 

 country about the middle of April, and leaving us again in 

 September. One has been picked up in August, cast up on 

 the shore by the waves. It does not arrive in Scotland and 

 the northern parts of the kingdom until the beginning of 

 May. 



'In its habits,' says Mr. Yarrell, 'it is shy, vigilant, and 

 restless, secreting itself in a hedge, and creeping along it for 

 many yards in succession, more like a mouse than a bird; 

 seldom to be seen far from a thicket, a patch of furze, or 

 covert of some sort, and returning to it again on the least 

 alarm. During the breeding-season, when bushes and shrubs 

 are clothed with leaves, it is difficult to obtain a sight of 

 this bird; yet, when near its haunt, its note rings on the ear 

 constantly, and, like that of other aquatic Warblers, may be 

 heard about sunset particularly, and sometimes even during 

 the night.' The bird is occasionally to be seen for a moment 

 or two on the lower branches of some tree or shrub in its 

 haunt, but is soon hid again from view. It has been ob- 

 served to run out from its hiding-place along and to the 

 extremity of some open branch, deliver its song, and then 

 return to its retreat. The female, confined with her brood, 

 conceals herself even more assiduously than the male. 



On the ground it runs very fast in a graceful manner, 

 often jerking the tail and tossing up the head; and also is 

 said to hop; it climbs about reeds with great dexterity 

 and nimbleness. 



Its food is composed of flies, gnats, beetles, and other 

 insects, grasshoppers, small snails, and slugs. 



