REED WABBLE E 



the middle of July. This, I think, may often be an ex- 

 planation of the quarrelling ; but without further observation 

 it would be unwise to speculate upon the cause of the gather- 

 ing together of different individuals, of the spontaneous out- 

 burst of song, and of the pursuits, which possibly are not 

 in earnest. 



Quarrels between this species and Sedge Warblers are not 

 uncommon, sometimes one being the aggressor, sometimes 

 the other. They dart at one another with the usual clicking 

 of bills ; and of the two the Eeed Warbler seems to be 

 the stronger. But I have seen a male Sedge Warbler inter- 

 fere in a most unjustifiable manner. This particular male 

 owned a territory in some alders adjoining the reeds, and, 

 as is their wont, favoured one particular tree, from which 

 he constantly performed the aerial flight and song peculiar 

 to the species. Now a pair of Eeed Warblers were located 

 some little distance away, and, as if for pure enjoyment, he 

 would suddenly and rapidy dart at one or other of them, pur- 

 suing it amongst the reeds and thus causing considerable 

 commotion. There was no obvious reason for such behaviour, 

 unless we regard it solely as practice for the more serious 

 side of its existence, that is to say, the necessary defence, 

 which might at any moment arise, of its territory. 



Few birds sing under smaller provocation. Even a stone 

 thrown into the reeds is often sufficient, and the advent of a 

 Jay (Garrulus glandarius), or a Magpie (Pica rustica) will 

 sometimes produce a spontaneous outburst in which the 

 majority of the males take part. The spontaneity with which 

 these outbursts occur is very striking. One, or perhaps two, 

 males may be leisurely singing, when suddenly, and often for 

 no apparent reason, all the males burst into their hurried 

 excitable song for a few moments only, and then again lapse 

 into silence. The song in which the female occasionally indulges 

 is peculiar, and differs in this respect from that of all other 

 members of the genus, excepting the Great Eeed Warbler 

 (Acrocephalus hcrdoides), that it does not flow evenly from 



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