98 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



the head, back and wings greenish brown ; centres 

 of the feathers darker brown, producing a spotted 

 appearance ; the feathers of the tail graduated and 

 of a uniform brown, the ends triangularly pointed ; 

 chin, throat, breast and belly pale brown, spotted 

 with dark brown on the neck and breast ; under tail- 

 coverts pale brown, streaked along the centre with 

 darker brown ; legs, toes and claws pale brown." 



The egg is rather smaller than that of the Hedge- 

 sparrow ; of a dull white ground colour, thickly but 

 very minutely speckled with a reddish purple. 



SEDGE WARBLER, Salicaria Phragmitis. This is 

 also an aquatic warbler, much resembling the last in 

 its habits, but, being more numerous and not so shy, 

 is far better known. It arrives in this country about 

 the same time as the Whitethroat; indeed I have 

 several times noted the appearance of the two birds 

 on the same day, generally about the 19th of April. 

 It is very common about the bushes and rushes on 

 the banks of the river Tone and of all its little 

 tributary streams. 



The food of the Sedge Warbler consists of various 

 aquatic and other insects, to which Yarrell says 

 worms and slugs may be added. 



Yarrell says the nest is frequently placed at or 

 near the bottom of a patch of thick coarse herbage : 

 it is composed of moss at the bottom, grass and 

 coarse bents at the sides, and thickly lined with 

 hair. Meyer adds that it is always suspended that 



