199 
NOTES ON THE NESTING OF THE GRASS- 
HOPPER WARBLER IN THE WEST RIDING. 
H. B. BOOTH, M.B.O.U., F.Z.S. 

(Continued from page 170). 
DATES OF NESTS, HATCHINGS, ETC. 
‘Reeling ’ bird first heard by me, May goth; first heard by 
B.N.H. & M.S., May 8th; stated by the park-ranger to have 
been heard almost a week before gth May. 
Nest found not complete about 8-0 a.m., May 24th, birds 
busy building. 
May 27th, 2 eggs in; May 2gth, 4 eggs in at 4-30 p.m., 
May 30th, 5 eggs in at 7-45 a.m., and was still sitting on nest 
at g-45 a.m., so concluded it had commenced sitting. 
May 31st, did not go near nest. 
June rst, full clutch of 6 eggs in; June 11th, 4 eggs hatched 
out ; June 12th, not visited; June 13th, 6 eggs hatched out ; 
June 22nd, one bird jumped out of nest as soon as I went near , 
June 23rd, all birds left nest ; June 25th, park-ranger states 
bird ‘reeling’ again in morning; June 27th and 28th,, bird 
‘reeling’ well, but not heard after, so probably decided to nest 
again. 
July 18th, found second nest with 6 eggs, evidently several 
days’ incubated ; July 21st, 4 of the 6 eggs hatched out ; 
July 22nd, 5 of the 6 eggs hatched out and other chipping ; 
July 23rd, 6 eggs hatched out ; July 30th, all birds still in 
nest ; July 31st, all birds now left nest. 
Both nests within a radius of 36 yards of the favourite 
resting perch (an isolated Elder tree). 
Bird has a flicking of wings and tail like Hedge Sparrow ; 
walks like a Titlark on ground, and climbs about the bushes, 
weeds, etc., by long climbing, grasping strides ; walks length- 
ways on the tree boughs like a squirrel ; when flying, flies 
low like a Kingfisher ; sings with uptilted head and wide-open 
mandibles, turning its head slowly side to side during utter- 
ance; seldom mounts high except to sing. Has a long slender 
body and a very graceful outline, which the long fan-shaped 
tail, long neck and long legs, heighten. 
Female broods the young well and constantly, and dives 
in the herbage expertly when flushed, without note or cry, 
(reminding one somewhat of the little Grebe diving in water) 
and creeps, with a faint rustling noise, a little distance away, 
but is back instantly that the suspected danger is past. 
1916 June ?. 

