IV The Marsh Warbler 83 



away a dozen yards from the cart-track on which we 

 stood, I made my way through the undergrowth, and 

 came upon the nest just where the bird had been 

 singing. It was of grass, with a very few hairs in 

 the lining, and contained two eggs somewhat whiter 

 in tone than those we found at Interlaken, and spotted 

 only at the thicker end. We found no other nests 

 that day, but heard much singing; and we noted 

 that, in spite of the many imitations in which the 

 bird indulges, there is always a very sweet silvery 

 individuality about the song, which makes it quite 

 unmistakable, and should distinguish it for every 

 reasonably acute ear from the Eeed Warbler's quiet 

 soliloquy, or the rattling enthusiasm of the Sedge 

 Warbler. The former of these two cousins may be 

 heard sometimes in this same moss, but always 

 among the tall reeds by the water : the latter, so 

 far as I know, is a stranger to these parts, nor do 

 I remember ever to haye heard or seen it alive in 

 Switzerland. 



The individuality of the Marsh Warbler's strain 

 must have impressed itself very keenly on my 

 memory. And it was fortunate that this was so, for 

 in spite of minute differences of colouring between 

 this bird and the Eeed Warbler, — of which I shall 

 have a word to say presently, — the two are in truth 

 so much alike that if they were sUent birds it would 

 be as hard to distinguish them when alive and free 



