28 THE BIRDS OF DEVOX. 



Arriving about the middle of April, and departing again at Michaelmas, 

 this vivacious and noisy little bird betakes itself to sedgy and swampy 

 ground, to the banks of streams and rivers, and to damp hedge-rows and 

 withy beds, where it plunges deep into the cover of the aquatic plants 

 and bushes, and all through the day and night pours forth an incessant 

 babbling — at. one moment mimicking the notes of some other bird ; at 

 another scolding to itself with a deep "churr"; restless and never 

 still, seldom coming forth into view, and nesting upon the ground or 

 in some low bush : its eggs partake the same variable character as its 

 song. 



Mr. Gatcombe saw some at Plymouth on October 1st, 1875 (Zool. 1875, p. 471G). 



Tbe Sedge-Warbler is common in tlie South Hams. Often flushed in turnips in 

 September (E. A. S. E.). Efford Marsh, Buekland meadows, and the banks of the 

 Ernie below Ermington (R. A. J., ' A'aturalist,' i. p. 87); Kingsbridge (R. P. Js.) ; 

 and Slapton Ley (J. C. B., Nat. Hist. S. Devon). 



Abundant in the Topsham marshes, on the banks of the Exe, and in the Clyst 

 valley. 



Occurs commonly in North Devon, but is not mentioned as being found on Lundv 

 Island. 



Grasshopper Warbler. Locustella nmia (Bodd.). 



A summer migrant of very local distribution. Breeds. 



It is rare in the I'lymoiith district, only a few specimens having been 

 obtained there (E. M., Mag. Xat. Hist. n. s. i. p. 170, lb87 ; W. H. Eow, 

 Zool. 1845, p. 1100). Four specimens have been obtained in the months of 

 April and May near Stoke (I'lymouth). One heard and seen in Fancy 

 ^Vood, April 19th, 1849 (E. A.'j., 'Naturalist,' ISol, p. ^1). 



^Montagu observed several about Kingsbridge, where it is still often seen 

 and heard late in the summer evenings every year, and where it breeds 

 (K. P. X.). A fjivourite locality for them is close to Xellaton, near the 

 Scart Point (E. A. S. E.). Seen occasionally near Ashburton (T. dt K.). 

 Lord Lilford has informed us that he once found six nests of this bird in 

 a small patch of ground on the northern slopes of Dartmoor. 



It is often heard at Stoke Wood, near Exeter, where it is quite common 

 in some years, and it is said to breed there. There are specimens in the 

 A. M. M. from this locality, one of which was killed on April 2Gth, 1849 

 (R. C). Heard near Exniouth, April 21st, 1SG9 (J. G., MS. Notes). 



We were never able to detect the note of the Grasshopjier-AVarbler 

 around Barnstaple ; but it occurs in North Devon, as Mr. H. A. Evans, of 

 the United Services College, Westward Ho, has informed us that it is met 

 with in the furze hills close to the College every spring. From our expe- 

 rience of it in other parts of England, we have observed that it is very 

 faithful to the same locality, the birds continuing year after year to nest 

 in the same corner of a held. Nowhere have we found this Warbler so 

 abundant as it is in the neighbourhood of Fairford, in Gloucestershire, 

 where, when fishing on the Coin, we have sometimes been quite startled 

 by its curious song, sounding like machinery running down, close at our 



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