Birds. 7441 



long narrow leaves of the comaion reed (Arimdo Phragmitis), wound 

 round and interlaced, but without any other lining. The eggs measure 

 ten lines in length by seven and a half lines in breadth ; of a whitish 

 ground-colour, covered nearly all over with minute specks of two 

 colours, one set being of a pale red, the other of light ash-gray ; in 

 some of the eggs the pale red spots are more conspicuous, and these 

 resemble the eggs of the grasshopper warbler, but are rather larger; in 

 others the gray specks are predominant, and these resemble the eggs 

 of the Dartford warbler."— Mr. Bond (Zool. 1212). 



Sedge Warbler, Sylvia Phragmitis. 



Situation. At the foot of low bushes by the skies of ponds and 

 ditches, or in a tuft of grass : in situations exactly similar to those 

 selected by the reed bunting, and not suspended among reeds, as 

 recorded by Mr. Selby and others ; in fact it seldom frequents 

 reeds. 



Materials. Moss and coarse grass externally, lined with hair and 

 fine dry grass. 



Eggs, 5, 6. Pale umber-brown, sometimes slightly streaked with 

 black. 



Great Sedge Warbler, Sylvia turdoides. 



Situation. In beds of reeds, supported by three or four of the 

 reed-stems. 



Materials. Dried leaves and flowering scapes of the reeds. 



Eggs, 4, 5. " Pale greenish white, spotted and speckled with ash- 

 gray and reddish brown." — Yarrell, i. 301. 



Reed Wren, Sylvia arundinacea. 



Situation. In marshy situations suspended over the water, between 

 the stems of reeds, to which it is curiously and beautifully fastened by 

 the dried grasses and reeds, of which it is principally constructed : 

 often in bushes near water. 



Materials. Dried leaves, as well as the dried flowering scapes of 

 the reed. 



Eggs, 4, 5. White, tinged with green, and blotched with brown 

 and olive-green. 



Nightingale, Sylvia Philomela. 



Situation. On the ground, especially on banks. 



Materials. Dried leaves outside, lined with fine grass. 



Eggs, 4 — 6. Yellow olive-brown, unspotted ; occasionally blue. 



Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla. 



Situation. In nettles, brambles, always near the ground, but not 

 VOL. XIX. U 



