2o6 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



brown. The " Sedge-bird " nests close to the 

 ground, the " Reed-wren " suspends its nest 

 amongst the reeds, two or three of which pass 

 through the nest and help to support it, while its 

 deep, cup-shaped form serves admirably to prevent 

 the eggs from rolling out when swayed by the 

 wind. 



It is, perhaps, too much to expect amongst the 

 little denizens of these vast reed beds a peep at 

 some rare species, such as the Bearded Tit or the 

 Marsh Warbler, so like a Reed-wren as to be with 

 difficulty distinguished from it, or the Aquatic 

 Warbler, of which only a very few examples have 

 been procured in this country, but which may be 

 detected at a glance by the three white streaks on 

 the head, one over each eye, the third down the 

 centre of the forehead. Further away in the 

 marsh we should hear the unmistakable trill of the 

 Grasshopper Warbler, though a sight of it can only 

 be obtained by patient watching. It loves drier 

 situations than any of the birds above mentioned, 

 and we have never seen or heard it amongst the 

 reeds. Along the margin of the water, where the 

 grass is short, the Yellow Wagtail picks its way 

 daintily, yet rapidly, now and again darting into 

 the air to catch a passing insect. A cock bird of 

 this species in summer time is as yellow as a canary, 

 and does not fail to strike with admiration the 

 observer who notices it for the first time.^ 



In a similar situation, that is, on the margin of 

 the water, a somewhat larger bird may be seen 

 ^ Its portrait is given on page 17. 



