86 
SYLVIAD.E. 
INSESSORES. 
DENTIROSTRES. SYLVIADJE. 
PLATE LXIL 
SEDGE WARBLER. 
Salicaria phragmitis. 
In consequence of its aquatic habits, this bird is of local 
distribution, and is found only in the neighbourhood of water, 
where rushes, and osiers, or other water-plants abound. The 
localities in which we have constantly found it in the greatest 
abundance, are the small islands that occur in the Thames 
between the opposite shores of Surrey and Middlesex, and 
which are, for the most part, appropriated to the cultivation 
of osiers, on account of their being under water several times 
in the year. These little islets, as well as various spots upon 
the banks of the river, are throughout the summer visited 
in great numbers by these lively little birds, which are 
continually to be heard in still and warm weather, uttering 
their peculiar and chattering song. This song, which is 
the first indication of their arrival, is seldom heard before 
the last week in April, these birds being, as before-mentioned, 
late in their spring migration. In May, we have found 
their nests in great abundance in the osier grounds above- 
mentioned, in patches of reeds, and among rank herbage 
in moist and marshy places. They may be discovered with 
tolerable facility, as little care is taken to conceal them, 
and the incessant babbling of the parent bird also tends 
to the discovery of the nest. During its stay in this country, 
