72 



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NEST AND EGGS OF THE REED-WARBLER. 



PLATE LXXII. 



The nest I describe, was built in a low hazle-tree ; 

 the outside is composed of weeds and moss, woven to- 

 gether with stalks of plants and blades of grass ; the 

 middle coat is made of the same stuff, but softer and 

 finer ; and the lining consists of willow down, and 

 black hairs. The whole is loosely wound about, not 

 with pack-thread, as in Mr. Lightfoot's nest, but with 

 stout double-twined woollen yarn, such as the poor 

 people make stockings of. Of several nests of this bird 

 which I have seen, this is the only one where any kind 

 of twined bandage was made use of. The eggs are 

 five or six in number; of a dusky white, spotted more 

 or less with dusky spots. The cock has a sweet song ; 

 his notes partake of those of the White-Throat, and 

 those of the Black-Cap ; and are often repeated with a 

 shaking of the wings and tail, while he is perched on 

 some low bush not far from the ground. 



