TUE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 117 



its head, tlic sound often appears to be shifted to 

 double that distance. Mr. Blyth remarks, " The 

 same effect is produced also by the common 

 meadow-crake, and in precisely the same manner, 

 by a mere turn of the head. When this curious 

 cricket-bird first arrives, it sedulously hides itself," 

 he adds, " in the very densest furze or bramble 

 coverts, rarely emitting its strange sibilous rattle, 

 whicli hardly ever seems to proceed fi'om the true 

 spot." 



The male birds, as with some other migratory 

 species, arrive first, and as soon as they have fixed 

 their abode, and their companions begin to follow, 

 the ventriloquising note ceases, lest it should serve 

 only to mislead ; and at this time the male 

 bird sits on the topmost twig of the bushes, and 

 rattles so loudly as to be heard at a great distance. 

 '' They are at this period so bold, as that if even 

 shot at and missed, they fly only two or three 

 yards, and then recommence immediately as if 

 nothing had happened." This accurate observer 

 remarks, that for two successive years he had 

 heard the trill on the 10th of April for the first 

 time in the season. 



The grasshopper bird is thus noticed by White, 



