THE GRASSHOPPER-WABBLEB, 63 



say I have ever heard him in the middle of the day, although I 

 have early in the afternoon. 



The nests I have found are few, and I remember the first one 

 was by consequence of luck — or rather ill-luck — for I trod on it. 

 It was in the middle of some bent, practically on the ground, and 

 this is the spot they seem to be most fond of for breeding 

 purposes. One very pretty nest I came across about three years 

 ago was between two and three feet from the ground, amongst a 

 lot of long dead grass ; the nest itself was built entirely of the 

 same grass, but this is the only one I have found so far off the 

 ground. 



The young leave the nest soon after they are hatched. 

 Whether or not two broods are reared here in the year I cannot 

 say, never having found a second one ; but the old birds sing 

 during most of July, so probably, in some cases, two broods are 

 reared. 



The earliest date at which I have found the young hatched is 

 June 6th, but that was exceptionHl. In September the young 

 males make an attempt at singing, but it only results in a curious 

 crackling noise ; they are certainly more easily approached than 

 the old birds, and at this time of the year I have often seen them 

 basking in the sun on dead branches, when they will allow a 

 very near approach before disappearing into the bushes with that 

 curious habit they possess of flirting their tail. 



