INSESSORES. 47 



exactly similar to those taken from reeds ; and at 

 Bath, where the river Avon is bordered by gardens, 

 I have formerly found their nests in shrubs near the 

 water ; but I confess I was much astonished to find 

 this bird entirely away from water and so near 

 London. I may add that last summer (1863) I 

 found four pairs of this bird here breeding in gar- 

 dens under similar circumstances. The young I 

 observed were very much fed on Aphides, taken 

 from a sycamore, the adjoining tree to that con- 

 taining the nest. As soon as the eggs were hatched, 

 the male nearly discontinued his song, gave up 

 his idle life, and devoted himself to his parental 

 duties." * 



This peculiarity in the Reed Warbler of breeding 

 at a distance from water, has also been remarked by 

 a friend at Ealing.f Writing to me upon the sub- 

 ject, he says : " This bird used to breed every year 

 in some lilac bushes in our garden at Ealing. This 

 was at least half a mile from the nearest stream of 

 water. If a stone were thrown into the bush in 

 which its nest was placed, it would instantly com- 

 mence, even at night-time, its noisy chattering, as if 

 in anger and defiance." On shooting one of these 

 birds, it was pronounced by several naturalists to be 

 the Reed Warbler (Sylvia arundinacea) . 



Mr. Mitford shot a pair of the birds observed at 



Zoologist,' p. 9109. f Mr. W. H. Power. 



