140 HALF-HOURS LN THE GREEN LANES. 



We omitted, when drawing attention to the birds 

 frequenting the marshes, to mention the Sedge 

 Warbler (Sylvia salicaria). It is a most remarkable 

 species, and like the American mocking bird, famous 

 for its powers of imitation. It mimics the song or 

 cry of the swallow, sparrow, thrush, lark, &c., so 

 perfectly that you can hardly tell the difference ; and 

 has the knack of concealing itself so that you cannot 

 tell whence the sound comes, and so are bewildered 

 to hear the song of a bird which you never before 

 knew affect such a habitat. It is a graceful little 

 object, and its nest is no less attractive. Not far off 

 perhaps, you may hear the Keed Warbler, and see it 

 clinging to the tall sedges of bullrushes with its 

 delicate little feet. 



One cannot but be struck with the fact that there 

 is quite as much adaptation of birds to the various 

 circumstances of life they affect, and that without 

 any broad variation from the bird-like type, as we 

 meet with in mammals. The feet and bill are of 

 course the organs most modified. But we see in the 

 divers and ducks, how the feet, when placed behind 

 the centre of gravity of the body, must assist in 

 diving and swimming. The modification in the bills, 

 even of our British birds, is very remarkable, and it 

 is impossible for an attentive student to go through 

 a museum without noticing it. How different is 

 the contrast between the soft bill and wide gape 

 of the (ioat-sucker (Fig. 95) and those of the Wood- 

 cocK and Snipe ! The latter is long and pointed, and 



