314 FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



bird. The nest is very deep, and furthermore the 

 edges of the opening bend inward and form a para- 

 pet. In this way is avoided the risk of a fall when 

 the reeds that bear the nest are swayed by the wind. 

 Finally, since the sedge-warbler is at liberty to build 

 her nest at any desired height above the surface of 

 the pond, she places it always high enough to be 

 beyond the reach of the rising water, even in great 

 floods. One suspects the bird of being able to fore- 

 see, months in advance, the coming inundation; for 

 she builds her nest at a greater or less elevation ac- 

 cording to the high-water mark destined later to be 

 reached by the surface of the pond. 



"The cisticola is a small warbler very common in 

 the marshes of Camargue, at the mouth of the Rhone. 

 Its nest is placed in the middle of a cluster of grass 

 and rushes, and takes the form of a purse with a 

 small round opening. Fine dry leaves form 

 the bed on which the eggs rest, while other and 

 larger leaves are fixed all around it to form an en- 

 closure. 



"For this work the bird turns tailor, cutting the 

 leaves and lapping them over one another. Along 

 the border of each leaf it punches holes with the point 

 of its beak and through these holes it passes one or 

 more threads made of cobwebs and the down from 

 certain plants. Its distaff for holding the thread — 

 namely, the beak — does not admit of using very long 

 strands ; hence the needleful, so to speak, goes only 

 twice or, at most, three times from one leaf to the 

 next one. But no matter; the sewing is strong 



