20 



NEST AND EGGS OF THE REED-SPARROW. 



PLATE XX. 



The Reed-sparrow makes her nest near some river, 

 lake, or pond. Sometimes conceahng it amongst sedges, 

 fern, or rushes. Rarely, she suspends it between the 

 stalks of the common * English-reed, as in the instance 

 before us. The nest I now describe was suspended 

 between three stems of reed, the leaves whereof were 

 drawn together in such manner as to form a slight kind 

 of lattice-work, upon which the foundation of the nest 

 was laid. The nest almost wholly consisted of broken 

 pieces of dried rushes ; the stronger placed near the 

 bottom, the finer round the brim. A few sprigs of 

 moss were mixed here and there amongst the rushes, 

 and the whole artfully bound together with the blades 

 of the growing reeds. The lining consisted of plenty 

 of cow's hair. The reeds grew in a still pond, and 

 the nest was placed about a foot above the surface of 

 the water. 



She lays four or five eggs of a dull white, very pret- 

 tily veined, and spotted with dark purple. 



The Reed-sparrow feeds on insects, on corn, on the 

 seeds of grass, and reed. 



The cock conceals himself while he sings, and war- 

 bles out his song in the night as well as the day. 



* Arundo phragmitis. 



