HIFF-CHAFF. SEDGE WARBLER. 49 



More local in distribution than the willow-warbler, it is 

 found also in much smaller numbers, and frequents occasionally 

 the vicinity of lofty trees, from the utmost height of which 

 we hear the ceaseless repetition of its short, hurried song. 

 This song, which bears a resemblance to its name, can be 

 heard at a great distance, as in clear calm weather it sounds 

 distinctly at the distance of half a mile. 



When captured the chiff-chaff becomes very familiar in 

 confinement, as, according to Mr. Stuart, it will perch on the 

 finger of the person to whom it may be accustomed, learn to 

 drink milk from a teaspoon, and follow its favourite round 

 the room on the wing. 



Habitat Western Europe. 



GENUS XXIII. SALICARIA (SEDGE BIRDS). 



SPECIES 48 THE SEDGE WARBLER, 



Sallcaria phragmites. Selby. 

 Bee Jin phragmite. Temm, 



Irish Nightingale. Sallypicker. 



THIS little songster, whose love for melody is so varied that, 

 not contented with its own simple lay, it adds notes, and pur- 

 loins portions of the song of whatever species may happen to 

 interrupt it. Thus we have heard on many occasions the ele- 

 gantly formed sedge warbler along the Tolka river near 

 Dublin, where at some places they occur in such numbers as 

 if small colonies were unanimous in selecting their summer 

 quarters. 



From its preferring any impervious shelter, where it may 

 skulk along the bottom of the reeds without attracting ob- 

 servation, it is not so well known as other species, and only 

 attracts attention by its changing polyglot melody, which is 

 generally performed in " shadiest covert hid." 



At times, when seated by the banks of that river which 

 Swift and Stella, Steele and Sheridan, Parnell and Addison, 

 have hallowed by their presence, and made it classical, has 

 the song of this species brought with it the most pleasing re- 

 collections of the many legends and traditions which invest 

 our classic Tolka, 



But pardon, gentle reader, for our digression. We will 

 observe their habits. There, by the sedges of the river side, 

 as if melody had returned to her primal reed, we hear the 

 peculiar shrill " charring" of the sedge warbler. Now, sus- 

 picious of our intentions, one ventures stealthily to a reed- 

 E 



