Its nest is generally built over the water, and fixed to two, three, or more reeds." 



THE REED WARBLER 



T 



HE Reed Warbler is not 

 easily confused with any 

 other British bird except- 

 ing, perhaps, its rare rela- 

 tive, the Marsh Warbler, 

 which is a vastly superior 

 vocalist. It is about 

 five and a-half inches in 

 length ; brown in colour on its upper 

 parts and white underneath ; the rump 

 is tinged with chestnut, and the breast 

 and sides with reddish buff. The legs 

 and toes are slaty brown. 



The favourite haunts of the Reed 

 Warbler, as its name implies, are to be 

 sought in fen lands, where its chattering 

 song may be heard morning, noon, and 

 night, proceeding from some dense re- 

 treat in which it loves to skulk and hide. 

 20 i 



Its song is not so loud or harsh as that 

 of the Sedge Warbler, and is not often 

 heard when the great reed beds in which 

 it lives are billowed and tossed by strong 

 winds. 



Its nest is a marvel of architecture 

 and constructive skill. It is generally 

 built over the water, and fixed to two, 

 three, or more reeds, with which it 

 sways to and fro, like a cradle, in re- 

 sponse to every breeze that blows. The 

 abnormal depth of the structure pre- 

 vents the eggs from rolling out when the 

 sitting bird is absent, and scarcely 

 anything excepting her bill and tail are 

 seen when she is engaged in the work of 

 incubation. 



The nest is composed of dead grass, 

 cleverly interwoven seed-branches, and 



