154 Silviadce. 



which he had taken from a nest at Broughton Gifford, in June, 

 1856, and described the nest as being completely hidden and 

 cleverly covered with rank grass in the clover-field where it was 

 found, after the manner of this species. Mr. Baker says that it 

 is common at Mere, where it is known as the ' mowing-machine 

 bird/ in allusion to its remarkable note. 



The Marlborough College Natural History Society's Reports 

 speak of many nests taken in the neighbourhood in 186G ; 

 mention it occasionally in several subsequent years, and in 1881 

 record that an unusually large number of this species visited 

 Marlborough during the summer of that year. I have, also, 

 many notes of its occurrence in all parts of the county, but 

 sparingly, for it is not so common as either of its congeners, and 

 is much more retiring and timid. 



47. SEDGE WARBLER (Salicaria phragmitis). 



We must look for this elegant species by the banks of streams 

 or the margins of lakes, and there amongst the tall sedge and 

 reeds we shall be almost sure to find it, for it is by far the 

 commonest of the genus, and few patches of sedge or willow beds 

 are without it. It is an incessant songster, or rather chatterer, 

 for its notes, though very various and rapid, are not particularly 

 melodious, and yet from its habit of singing throughout the 

 summer's night, it has been sometimes mistaken for the nightin- 

 gale: when silent, it may be excited to renew its song by the 

 simple expedient of throwing a stone into the bush where it is 

 concealed. 



Professor Newton observes that many of its notes are very 

 harsh, and the frequent repetition of one of these has gained for 

 the species in some parts of England, particularly in the valley 

 of the Thames, the name of 'Chat,' by which it is there mainly 

 known.* This I can corroborate, for such was the name by 

 which it was designated at Eton, where I used to find it breeding 

 in abundance, on the reedy banks of the Thames. 



* Fourth edition of Yarrell's ' British Birds/ vol. i., p. 379. 



