THE SEDGE WARBLER. 411 



kept in confinement except reared from the nest. In April it 

 frequents the woods and thickets, when its song, tzip, tzap ! may 

 frequently be heard. In October, it collects in flocks in the 

 gardens, and on the willow trees ; and in November, migrates 

 to a warmer climate. It is at home all over Europe. It feeds 

 on small insects and their eggs, and in autumn, on elder- 

 berries. An old bird will live in confinement only so long as it 

 is supplied with flies, and very rarely becomes accustomed to 

 the Nightingale paste. 



The nest is built upon the ground, and consists of a round 

 mass of roots, grass, wool, and feathers. It contains five or 

 six white eggs, spotted with red. The young may be reared 

 on ants' eggs. 



These birds may be caught in the same manner as the Wil- 

 low Wren. They may be allowed to fly about the room, or 

 confined in a small cage with perches. 



160. THE SEDGE WARBLER. 



Silvia Salicaria, LATHAM. Sylvia Phragmites, TEMMINCK. Calamoherpe 

 Phragmites, MACGILLIVRAY. Sedge Reedling, Sedge Bird, Sedge Wren. 



This little bird, which is included by MR. SWEET in his 

 account of British WarUers, and which, therefore, we have 

 thought it well to admit here, is described by MACGILLIVRAY as 

 rather common in many of the marshy parts of England, but 

 rare in Scotland : it arrives in April, and departs in October ; 

 its favourite resorts are places overgrown with reeds and other 

 tall aquatic plants, among which it searches for its insect food, 

 and places its nest, which is bulky, loosely constructed 01 

 grasses, and lined with finer materials of the same nature, 

 with some hair. The eggs, generally five, are eight-twelfths of 

 an inch long, six-twelfths in breadth, of a greenish white colour, 

 dotted and freckled with light brown and greenish grey. This 

 bird has a lively, modulated, and mellow song, which is often 

 heard late at night. It is very active, but, from its mode of 

 life, is seldom seen. 



The tail of the bird is rather long, slightly rounded ; the 

 upper part of the head brownish black, the feathers edged 

 with light brown; the back and wing coverts light olive 

 brown, tinged with yellow, the central parts of each feather 

 dark brown ; rump light reddish brown j a yellowish white 



