SYLVIAD^. 97 



and wary habits, as well as the localities it inhabits, 

 all causing it to be overlooked by even moderately 

 attentive observers : it is, however, more readily to 

 be recognized by the ear than the eye, as it makes a 

 noise very like the grasshopper, whence its name. 

 I am told it is not at all uncommon on the banks of 

 the Tone, especially between Taunton and Bishop's 

 Hull. 



It is generally aquatic in its habits, frequenting 

 wet and marshy situations, where it hides amongst 

 the long grass and rushes, and in such situations its 

 nest is usually placed; sometimes also it is con- 

 cealed amongst the thick matted grass and weeds in 

 the bottom of a furze or bramble bush : it is made 

 of coarse grass and lined with bents.* 



The food of the Grasshopper "Warbler consists of 

 gnats, flies, maggots, grasshoppers and water beetles, 

 besides all the various sorts of insects which are to 

 be found amongst reeds and other water plants.! 



This bird is about the same size as the better- 

 known Sedge Warbler, but slightly exceeds it in 

 length. As I have not been fortunate enough to 

 obtain a specimen for my collection I have taken the 

 following description from Yarrell : " The beak is 

 brown, the base of the upper mandible paler in 

 colour than the other parts ; irides hazel ; the top of 



* Yarrell, vol. i., p. 296. 



f Meyer's ' British Birds,' vol. ii., p. 85. 



K 



