Birds. 



2533 



concealing itself in the grass and sedge growing amongst underwood, 

 it is very difficult to capture. It is very rarely seen on the wing, but 

 runs upon the ground with great agility, often jerking its tail and 

 pricking up its head. Thick sedgy coverts, in retired situations, are 

 its favorite haunts ; and here, perched on the topmost spray of a low 

 bush, it will continue its rapid ticking noise for a surprising length 

 of time without any intermission : at its commencement the note is 

 very faint, but gradually becomes louder, till at length it may be 

 heard for some distance : on the slightest alarm the song is stopped, 

 and the ticker, speedily betaking himself to the ground, wends his 

 way to another bush, and ascending it soon begins again. This note 



Grasshopper Warblers {Salicaria Locusfella). 



is common to, and equally strong in, both sexes, but is seldom heard 

 after the young are hatched. We once found a nest of this species 

 containing rive eggs : they were flesh-coloured, thickly speckled with 

 reddish brown, particularly at the larger end, and appeared large in 

 proportion to the size of the bird. The nest was built of coarse herb- 

 age, curiously placed under a clod of earth, and hidden from view by 

 the long grass which hung over it. 



Reed Warbler (Salicaria arundinacea). This very local and pretty 

 species is met with during the summer in one small covert near this 

 VII 2 D 



