18 SEDGE, AQUATIC, GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS. 



SEDGE WAEBLEE (Acrocephalus phragmitis). 



Migrant ; April to September. Local in extreme North ; 

 otherwise common and generally distributed. 



Haunts. Eiver banks, marshy places, and the like. 



Observation. Distinguish from Eeed Warbler by lighter 

 upper parts and more pronounced eye-stripe. 



Plumage. Head-feathers black, with brown edges ; pale 

 buff superciliary streak over eyes. Lores smoky brown. Chin 

 and throat white ; upper parts greyish golden brown, with 

 dark centres to feathers. Primaries greyish brown, narrowly 

 edged with white ; under parts buffish, passing into white 

 on abdomen. Eump and upper tail-coverts reddish brown. 

 Bill dark brown above, lighter below. Legs light brown. 

 Length 5 in. Female similar but duller. Young spotted with 

 brown on breast. 



Language. An incessant singer, the song being harsh and 

 chiding, interspersed here and there with notes very similar to 

 those of several species. It sings by night as well as by day. 

 Alarm-note, " chuck-uck-uck-uck-churr." Call-note, "chiddy- 

 chiddy." 



Habits. Not particularly shy, but difficult to observe, owing 

 to its intense restlessness. When alarmed it at once rattles 

 out its curious babbling song. 



Food. Aquatic insects and their larvae, slugs, and worms ; 

 also soft fruits, e.g., elder-berries. 



Nest. May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. Low down amongst thick aquatic herbage, or at foot 

 of hedge or bush amongst undergrowth. 



Materials. Dead leaves, grasses, and stalks, lined with 

 fine grass, hair, vegetable-down, and, perhaps, a few feathers 

 and a little wool. Cup fairly deep. 



Eggs. Four to six. Dull white, mottled and clouded with 

 yellowish brown ; almost invariably a dark hair-like streak at 

 the large end. 



AQUATIC WABBLEE (Acrocephalus aquaticus). 



A chance visitor to Great Britain, but owing to its close 

 resemblance to the Sedge Warbler it may have been over- 

 looked. Distinguish from Sedge Warbler by buff streak along 

 centre of crown. 



GEASSHOPPEE WAEBLEE (Locustella navia). 



Migrant ; April to September. Found pretty generally 

 throughout Great Britain, but more local in Scotland. 



Haunts. Both dry and marshy ground, copses, choked 

 ditches, wild commons, and wastes. 



