The Garden Warbler. 95 



them by intrusive companions, and retreats to the 

 deepest recesses of the woods, as he has done now, to 

 enjoy himself in quietude. Perhaps his partner is near 

 by, building a soft little nest in place of the deserted 

 one, where the eggs have been handled — four or five 

 greenish-white eggs, spotted brown or yellow. Though 

 he loves to sit high when singing, he builds low in a 

 little bush, or even amid rank herbage not far from a 

 tree's foot. The nest is rough-made of tough grasses, 

 interwoven with wool, hair, and fine fibres loosely 

 shaken-in forming the lining. The garden-warbler is 

 a fine grub and insect-killer, only when the fruit is 

 ripe indulging himself a little ; and, on the whole, 

 deserving entertainment and that little indulgence for 

 the earlier service he does. But he is being hunted 

 off the face of the earth ; at all events he is becoming 

 scarcer, save in a very few favoured localities. He 

 deserves this good word for the sweet song he has 

 sung to me, and I must not spoil it now by dwelling 

 on any other. But I must not move, else he will be 

 off, and I may yet have another sweet little shower of 

 song. I will wait quietly and see and hear. 



