98 A MIDLAND VILLAGE : EAILWAT AND WOODLAND, 



like that of a very well-oiled fisherman's reel, made to run at 

 a very rapid rate, and its local name of the 'reel-bird' is a 

 perfectly just and good one. 



I was on the outside of a little hedge, and the noise proceeded 

 from the saplings on its further side. In order to see the bird 

 I must get over the hedge, which could not be done without a 

 scrunching and crackling of branches sufficient to frighten 

 away a much less wary bird than this. There seemed however 

 to be no other Chance of getting a sight of the bird, so through 

 the hedge I went ; and tumbled down on the other side with 

 such a disturbance of the branches that I gave up all hope of 

 attaining my object. 



Great was my astonishment when I saw only a few yards from 

 me a little olive-brown bird creeping through the saplings, 

 which I knew at once to be the Grasshopper Warbler. I then 

 took up a fixed position, the little bird after a minute or two 

 proceeded to do the same, and for some time I watched it with 

 my glass, as it sat on a twig and continued to utter its reel. 

 It was only about ten paces from me, and the field-glass which I 

 carried placed it before me as completely as if it had been in my 

 hands. What struck me most about it was its long supple 

 olive-green neck, which was thrust out and again contracted 

 as the reel was being produced ; this being possibly, as I fancy, 

 the cause of the strange ventriloquistic power which the bird 

 seems to possess ; for even while I watched it, as the neck was 

 turned from side to side, the noise seemed to be projected first 

 in one direction and then in another. The reel was uttered at 

 intervals, and as a general rule did not continue for more than 



