BRITISH BIRDS. 33 



coverts tawny-brown ; wing-quills and tail dark-brown, 

 with pale margins ; throat white ; remaining under parts 

 pale buff, deeper on flanks ; bill dark brown above, 

 yellowish at lower base ; iris brown ; feet pale brown. 

 Length 5*00. Female : less rufous, and duller in general 

 tints. Young : slightly spotted with light brown on 

 breast. 



Arrives about third week in April, leaving at end of 

 September ; breeds in every county in Britain and in most 

 parts of Ireland. Frequents rivers, lakes, ponds ; also 

 ditches and hedgerows in damp meadows, &c. Nest is 

 usually placed in low bushes or brambles among coarse 

 herbage; usually low down, but I have seen it at 8 feet from 

 ground ; exceptionally suspended like a Reed- Warbler's 

 between three or four tall sedges, etc., but not over water ; 

 rather deeply constructed of moss, grass, and a little wool, 

 lined with fine grass and horsehair. Eggs : 4 to 6 ; pale 

 brownish-yellow, mottled and clouded with a darker tint 

 and with a few superficial black streaks ; size '68 by '52. 

 The loud, persistent, hurried, and chattering song is heard 

 at night as well as by day. 



GENUS XVI. LOCUSTELLA, Kaup (1829). 

 Differs not greatly from Acrocephalus. 



42. Loeustella nsevia (Boddaert). 



GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 



Hab. Europe, north to the Baltic and British Islands, 

 occasionally to Norway : of local distribution. Migrating 

 from North Europe in winter. 



Male : upper plumage pale greenish-brown, each feather 

 (except upper tail-coverts) having a dark brown centre ; 

 large, slightly-graduated tail, and the wing-quills brown 



D 



