BIRDS OP THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 31 



48. SALICARIA LOCUSTELLA (Latham). Grasshopper 

 Warbler. 



A rare summer visitant, occurring at very irregular 

 intervals. Was not uncommon during the dry 

 summer of 1868*, in the dense reedy plantations 

 bordering the Great Cotes and Aylesby "beck," 

 where, on summer evenings, I have listened to three 

 or four of these strange warblers " reeling " in con- 

 cert. They are a remarkably shy and retiring bird, 

 and on the least alarm drop from the reed-stems into 

 the undergrowth of thick aquatic vegetation, where 

 the eye vainly attempts to follow them. The song, 

 if such it may be called, which is nothing more 

 than a monotonous whirr, like the spinning oWish- 

 ing-reel, is uttered when clinging almost perpen- 

 dicularly to a reed-stem. The mandibles of the bird 

 are at this time wide apart, the throat greatly dis- 

 tended, and there is also an odd shivering of the 

 entire body. 



Mr. Boulton informs me that it is occasionally 

 met with near Beverley. 



49. SALICARIA PHRAGMITIS (Bechstein). Sedge 



Warbler. 



Provincial. Reed Sparrow. 



A summer visitant, and extremely common 

 ticularly in that portion of the district bordering the 



* Since this season I have observed it as a regular but scarce 

 summer visitant in North-east Lincolnshire. 



