348 BRITISH BIRDS. 



however, that the birds were all gone by September j so that possibly 

 it may be only exceptionally that it winters in the south of France. 

 It must, however, be remembered that birds of such skulking habits may 

 easily be overlooked after they have ceased to sing. Although most 

 observers agree that Savins Warbler is by no means so shy as its two 

 European allies, the Grasshopper Warbler and the River- Warbler, yet it 

 seems only to frequent large reed-beds, and can rarely be seen except 

 from a boat or by wading in the marshes. Although it drops down into 

 the sedges for concealment if pursued, it seems to avoid the sedges and 

 other water-plants when feeding, and is seldom seen perched except upon 

 the reeds. It runs up one of these, searching for insects on the stem and 

 leaves, then drops down onto another, up which it runs in like manner, 

 never still for a moment except when it pauses to sing on the top of 

 a reed, where, with outstretched neck, head somewhat thrown back, and 

 extended throat, it runs off its monotonous reel, whence it has been called 

 the Reel-bird (in Dutch Sivorr, in German Schwirrvogel) . 



The song of Savins Warbler is said to resemble the note of the tree-frog. 

 It is a monotonous whirr or trill, like the note of a grasshopper, and is 

 described as more melodious but less powerful than that of the other two 

 European Grasshopper Warblers. It is pitched in a higher key than either 

 of them, and sounds further or nearer as the bird turns its head from or to- 

 wards the listener. It may be heard at all hours of the day or night in calm 

 warm weather; but on cold nights the bird is silent, and in windy weather 

 it either does not sing at all or its voice is drowned by the rustling of the 

 reeds. Its call-note is described as a short krr. It is said to be a very 

 quarrelsome bird, and frequently to chase so eagerly any rival which may 

 invade its domain as to be at such times regardless of danger. In 

 Andalusia it breeds early in May ; but in this country, in Holland, and in 

 Galicia it is recorded to have bred late in May or early in June. Graf 

 Casimir Wodzicki, describing its habits in the latter country (Journ. Orn. 

 1853, Extra-Heft, p. 49), writes : — " I have often watched this delicate little 

 bird building its nest, and noticed with what trouble it collects the materials. 

 At first both sexes are thus employed ; but later the female alone collects 

 the leaves, which the male takes from her beak and arranges without her 

 assistance." The nest is carefully concealed amongst the sedges [Carex], 

 and is placed upon a heap of tangled blades, usually six inches, but some- 

 times two or three feet, above the water. It is composed of flat leaves of 

 broadish grass, generally of sweetgrass [Glyceria), carefully woven together, 

 the narrowest leaves being chosen for the lining. It is a marvellously neat 

 structure, very deep, sometimes deeper than the inside diameter. Graf 

 Wodzicki says that " an inexperienced ornithologist would take it for a 

 nest of the Little Crake, so exactly similar is it, only smaller." He also 

 states that both male and female sit on the nest, and allow themselves to 



