44 Bolam: The Natural History of Hornsea Mere. 
April, when I arrived. Several about there during next few 
days, also round Wassand. On 28th and 2gth April numbers 
increased ; several nests seen. 
GARDEN WARBLER.—Common ; apparently more numerous 
than Blackcap. Several nests seen; one nearly fledged 14th 
June ; one building two days later—laid four eggs and hatched 
four young on 27th June; robbed, almost certainly by Brown 
Owl. Another building 21st May. 
GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN.—Generally present in the woods 
and Taylor has usually seen a nest in Boat-house Wood, but 
the fir trees are nearly all dead there now, and no nest was seen 
this year. On 15th May, however, I saw a single bird in Boat- 
house Wood, and another near the Hall a week or two later. 
These were the only individuals I saw. 
CHIFFCHAFF.—One was singing near the Hall on 21st April, 
but not heard again till 27th June, when two were singing 
during most of the day, the one in Low Wood, the other at 
Stick Heap, Wassand. One was in song in Low Wood again 
on 28th, but was never heard again anywhere in the locality. 
The WiLLow WREN was more numerous on and about 
20th April, when I arrived, than later; a few nests, however, 
in most places. There were some just-fledged young on 2oth 
June. The species is not so abundant here as in many places. 
Woop WrREN.—None seen, and Taylor did not know it. 
REED-WARBLER.—Abounds all round the reedy portions of 
the Mere, but sticks very faithfully to Phragmites, and I saw 
no nests built except in the orthodox way, on the stems of 
that plant, and above water. Its chorus of song was.a treat 
to hear in the very early mornings—just before dawn, and 
while all the other birds were yet silent—and this was con- 
tinued without perceptible diminution up to the time I left 
(2zoth July). The first arrival was heard singing at the edge 
of Low Wood on 27th April. On 28th one—perhaps the same 
bird—took up its quarters on the margin of Boat-house Channel, 
and continued in daily song there throughout my stay, and 
bred there; but no others were seen or heard till 8th May, 
when many arrived, and were singing in various places round 
the Mere in early morning. On 25th May they had become 
numerous, and were very active, showing themselves on the 
top of reeds, etc., in a manner they had not previously done. 
Several were noticed building nests by this date, both sexes 
being so engaged. I did not disturb the reed-beds at this 
time, and the first eggs did not happen to be seen till roth 
June, when a very cursory examination of a small portion of 
Lady Island revealed three nests of five eggs each, all partly 
incubated, and one with young—also five in number—of a 
few days old. During the next ten days many other nests 
were seen about the margins of the reed-beds, several with 
Naturalist. 
