94 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



etc. It is not so deep or compact, and it will be noticed that the material 

 used in the rim to fasten the nest to the supporting stems is only woven into 

 the nest at the ends, assuming the appearance which Mr. Warde Fowler 

 describes as " basket handles." The eggs are very much the same as the Reed 

 Warbler's, greenish white, with prominent dark spots and many fine speckles. 



Warbler, Reed. This bird's uniform olive-brown colour distinguishes it 

 from the Sedge Warbler, but the only means of distinguishing it from the Marsh 

 Warbler (which see) is by its nest, eggs, and song. This latter is decidedly in- 

 ferior, and is a hurried chattering, with many " Tack-tacks " in it (like the Sedge 

 Warbler's). The under parts are white tinged with buff, inclining to a rufous 

 tinge, which the Marsh Warbler entirely lacks. The nest is a wonderful structure, 

 attached to reeds over water, generally suspended between three or four reed 

 stems, and constructed chiefly of the dead flower heads of old reeds, interwoven 

 to make a clean round rim. (Note. Sometimes found amidst vegetation some 

 distance from water.) 



It is a deep nest, to prevent the eggs from falling out when the reeds sway 

 in the wind, and generally contains four or five eggs, of a pale green colour, 

 thickly blotched with greenish brown spots. 



Warbler, Sedge. This bird is identified by the plumage markings, the 

 upper parts being a russet-brown, with black centres to the feathers, a pale 

 eyebrow, and a dark line above it, the under parts white, with tawny-buff 

 sides. It is a very voluble singer, and like all the Marsh Warblers often sings 

 at night. There are many chattering, scolding notes in its song, and it is an 

 excellent mimic. It is often found in many places where the Reed Warbler 

 would not occur, such as near small streams and ponds. And it does not keep 

 to marshy ground, but places its substantial nest usually in mixed herbage, 

 in hedges and bushes ; occasionally, it suspends it like the Reed Warbler. 



The nest is composed of grasses and moss, lined with hair, sometimes with 

 feathers and other materials. The eggs, like the Yellow Wagtail's, are greenish 

 white, clouded all over with brownish, and a thin line or two of black. 



Warbler, Willow ( WILLOW WREN). A very common summer visitor, with a 

 simple, pleasing song, slower than the Wood Warbler's, and with notes that 

 fall in a descending scale. It has the plaintive, piping call-note "Wheet," 

 which is a characteristic of all the family. It is smaller than the Wood Warbler 

 and duller in colour, while its pale brown legs distinguish it from the Chiffchaff . 

 Olive-greenish above, wings and tail brown, a yellow eyebrow, and a dark 

 streak through the eye ; under parts yellow-white. The nest is domed, with 

 entrance at side, made of grass, leaves, etc., and lined with feathers (a distin- 

 guishing feature) ; generally placed on or near the ground in grass or other 

 herbage, or on the side of a bank, in woods or open ground. The eggs are 

 white, with light red spots. 



Warbler, Wood (often called WOOD WREN). This bird is larger and more 

 brightly coloured than the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Upper parts 

 yellowish green, a broad eyebrow of yellow, yellow throat ; under parts whitish. 



