THE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER 



or June. Its nest is cunningly concealed either on the 

 ground 'or just above it in the tangled lower vegetation 

 of its haunt, long grass being a favourite situation. It is 

 deep and cup-shaped, compact, and made outwardly of 

 dry grass, dead leaves, and moss, and lined with fine 

 round grass-stalks. Thefive or six eggs are white suffused 

 with the palest pink, spotted and profusely dusted with 

 reddish brown and grey, with an occasional streak of dark 

 brown. The female sits closely, and glides from the nest 

 in a very silent manner, seldom betraying its whereabouts. 

 One brood only is reared in the season. 



The adult Grasshopper Warbler is olive-brown above, 

 spotted with darker brown of the same shade, buffish 

 brown below, merging into nearly white on the chin 

 and belly, and the under tail-coverts have brown shaft- 

 marks. Bill dark brown, paler below ; tarsi and toes light 

 brown ; irides brown. Length 5^ inches. The nestlings 

 are yellower in tint, and have many dark markings on the 

 throat and flanks. 



