90 FANTAII, WARBLER. 



few minutes it will be perceived coming up to liiglier 

 brandies of tlie slirubs, fluttering and liopping after 

 smaller insects on the leaves of the sedges and reeds, 

 and, rising suddenly in tbe air, stop a short time and 

 then come down to the same spot, from whence it will 

 again conceal itself among the bushes." 



Its flight is not rectilineal, but takes the form of a 

 curve, which corresponds to the repeated flapping of 

 its wings, during which it frequently utters its sharp 

 shrill call -note. This resembles much that of Anthus 

 pratensis, and is its entire song. It is heard loudest 

 when it thinks its nest is in danger, upon which occa- 

 sions it wheels round the intruder's head in circles, 

 utte;ring loud cries. 



"It breeds three times in the year: the first time in 

 April, when the nest is built negligently, for want of 

 materials, and it generally chooses a sedge or rush 

 clump for its home. It is always one foot distant from 

 the ground. The perfect nest is a very beautifid and 

 wonderful construction; the stalks of the plants which 

 form the outside are entwined together with a perfect 

 needle-work, not merely strung one to another. In the 

 sides of every leaf the little bird reaches with its beak, 

 it makes a small opening, and passes through plant 

 fibre threads, formed from the Asclepiadce, EpilohicB, 

 and the pappous of Syngenesia. Those threads are not 

 very long, and reach only twice or thrice from one 

 leaf to another, and it is astonishing how these little 

 birds so elegantly and solidly accomplish the troublesome 

 work. The inside of the nest is merely spread over 

 with the down of plants. The eggs, in number from 

 four to six, are more or less a lively greenish grey; 

 and, according to Savi, some are flesh-coloured." 



Brehm, in Badeker's European eggs, calls this bird 



