566 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



leaning stem, though upon an emergency it can cling to an up- 

 right one, the stiff feathers of the tail acting as a sort of prop. 



" It is not easily raised, and remains but a very short time upon 

 the wing, but it is by no means timid on its perch, upon which, 

 if it be very flexible, it sits with its wings not quite closed, but 

 recovered, so as to have a little hold on the air, and thereby either 

 prevent its fall, or be read}', when a gust comes, to bear it to a 

 more secure footing. Its food is found wholly over the stagnant 

 waters. The Eeed Warbler does not come in until the reeds are 

 considerably advanced, and it departs before they are cut, so that 

 it dwells in peace ; and especially in the mornings, about the end 

 of May and the beginning of June, it may be observed with the 

 greatest ease." 



Still, although the bird be common, and although it is bold 

 enough to admit of approach, it is not generally familiar, simply 

 because none but professed naturalists are likely to look for it in 

 the spots which it frequents. The Reed Warbler loves a large 

 patch of marshy land almost wholly covered with stagnant water, 

 and full of the reeds among which its home is made. Such a 

 place is not agreeable to the pedestrian ; for, although an hour 

 spent in wading through water knee-deep is no difficult or even 

 unpleasant task, yet no one likes to meet also with mud of vari- 

 ous and unknown depths, as is the case in the great reed swamps 

 where the birds most love to build. Even the song of the Eeed 

 Warbler does not attract attention. Though musical in tone, it is 

 very feeble in power and monotonous in character, consisting of 

 several hurried notes in a low warble, which can only be heard at 

 a little distance. 



The nest of this bird is supported between three or four reeds, 

 as is shown in the illustration, and is remarkably deep in propor- 

 tion to its width. The object of this depth is evident. To bend 

 as a reed before the wind is a proverbial saying, and any one who 

 has seen a large mass of reeds on a stormy day must have been 

 impressed with their graceful curves. As the blasts of the wind 

 pass over them, they bend in successive waves like the billows 

 of the sea, and are sometimes bowed so low that their tips nearly 

 reach the water. 



A nest, therefore, which rests on such pliant supports must be 

 thrown out of its perpendicular by every breath of wind, and un- 

 less it were very deep the eggs would be flung out. The great 

 depth, however, of the nest counteracts the deflection of the 



