BIRDS IN A VILLAGE 73 



hearing is very remarkable, considering the smalhiess 

 of the sound, which, without being unpleasant, is 

 somewhat similar to that produced by the vibration 

 of the brake of a train ; it is not powerful enough 

 to jar the nerves, but appears to pervade the entire 

 system. Lying still, with eyes closed, and three or 

 four of these birds singing near, so that their strains 

 overlap and leave no silent intervals, the listener can 

 imagine that the sound originates within himself, 

 that the numberless fine cords of his nervous network 

 tremble responsively to it. 



There are a number of natural sounds that re- 

 semble more or less closely the most unbird-like 

 note of this warbler — cicada, rattlesnake, and some 

 batrachians. Some grasshoppers perhaps come 

 nearest to it; but the most sustained current of 

 sound emitted by the insect is short compared to 

 the warbler's strain, also the vibrations are very 

 much more rapid, and not heard as vibrations, and 

 the same effect is not produced. 



The grasshopper warblers gave me so much 

 pleasure that I was often at the spot where they had 

 their little colony of about half a dozen pairs and 

 where I discovered they bred every year. At first 

 I used to go to any bush where I had caught sight 

 of a bird and sit down within a few yards of it and 

 wait until the little hideling's shyness wore off and 

 he would come out and start reeling. Afterwards I 



