SEDGE WARBLEK 
87 
which is from the end of April to September, or October, 
this noisy little bird may be heard at most hours of the 
day, and very frequently in the night, if the weather is warm ; 
but even the cheerful voice of this incessant chatterer is 
silent if the same spot is visited on a cold day, when the 
wind is blustering. Nevertheless, we doubt whether in more 
sheltered situations it is so easily silenced. 
The Sedge Warbler is by no means shy, but may often 
be seen flitting among the branches of the willows, osiers, 
and reeds, it dwells iq. It is restless and active, constantly 
employed in the search for food, which it appears to And 
among their stems and branches. It is not, like the pre¬ 
ceding species, impatient of being observed; on the contrary, 
we have frequently approached so close to it, when seated 
upon its eggs, as to touch it before it attempted its escape. 
When thus forced from its nest, it flies but a few yards, 
and making a little circuit, instantly returns; and although 
chased many times from its nest, it perseveringly returns 
to the spot. 
The song of the Sedge Warbler is, in some of its parts, 
sweet and pleasing, but it is almost constantly intermixed 
with a rough chattering note that is very unmusical : this 
constantly repeated note has gained for these little birds 
the name of chats, by which they are always distinguished 
by the little cow-herd boys, whose occupation confines them 
to the extended plains before-mentioned, that border the 
Thames along some part of its course. 
We have invariably found the nest of this species sus¬ 
pended ; and usually from six inches to a foot from the 
ground. The plants among which we have most frequently 
taken it have been either reeds or nettles, to whose upright 
stems the nest is attached by means of the grasses, of which 
it is chiefly composed, being carried round their stalks. 
Three, four, or more reeds are in this manner made to serve 
