AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 117 



his having received from Northamptonshire, nearly 

 two years before, an q^^ unquestionally belonging to 

 the Reed-Thrush," which, as appears from Yarrell, 

 is the oldest name for this species. This egg was 

 received from the late Mr. AVheelwright (the " Old 

 Bushman " of the ' Field '), unaccompanied by any 

 positive information as to where it was taken. I may 

 mention that the said Mr, Wheelwright was formerly 

 resident, I believe, at Cotterstock, or in that immediate 

 neighbourhood, and that the reed-beds of our Nen 

 in that neighbourhood are eminently suited to the 

 habits of this species, with which I have formed 

 a pretty intimate acquaintance in various parts of 

 Southern Europe. There is no apparent reason for 

 the scarcity of this species in our Islands, as it is 

 common in Northern France, Belgium, and Holland, 

 and it would be difficult to find a country apparently 

 better suited to it than that part of Norfolk known 

 as the " Broad-" district, in which, however, I do not 

 recollect to have heard of its occurrence. The Reed- 

 Thrush is not a bird likely to escape observation, 

 from his incessant chattering song, which resembles 

 that of our common Reed-Warbler [Acroce/phalus 

 streperus), but is much more powerful, and is varied 

 with occasional croaking notes like those of the 

 edible frog, which reptile is often found in great 

 abundance in the haunts of this species. I believe 

 that these birds are never found far from the reed- 

 beds which are their favourite resorts, and amongst 

 which it is often very difficult to obtain more than a 

 casual glimpse of the bird as it flits chattering from 

 one perch to another. In the early morning they 

 come to the tops of the reeds to sing, and no one who 

 has not visited a well-frequented haunt of this species 



