84 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



Flight. — The flight of this bird is quick, 

 generally from one bush to another or across 

 a stream. If disturbed too rudely, it quits 

 the bush in which it is singing, flies a short 

 distance to another bush, or a different part 

 of the hedge, and sets up its song again. It 

 is a very lively bird, seldom remaining long 

 in exactly the same place. 



Migration. — This is a summer visitor 



to this country, arriving in England towards 

 the end of April, and departing about the 

 middle of October. 



Food. — Small insects of all sorts, and 

 also small worms, slugs, and snails. 



Habitat. — The Sedge Warbler is a 

 common bird in all suitable parts of Britain. 

 As its name implies, it delights in the bor- 

 ders of ponds, ditches, and streams where 

 there is a thick growth of bush and weed. 

 In the Fens of the eastern counties of Eng- 

 land it is a very common bird. 



Abroad it is met with in most parts of 

 Europe, also in Asia Minor, Palestine, as 

 well as Egypt and other parts of Africa. 



Nest. — I am indebted to Mr. H. An- 

 drews of Aldbrough for obtaining for me a 

 beautiful nest of this species for figuring. 

 It is round and compact, formed principally 

 of fine grass stems, with moss on the outside 

 and thinly lined with horse hair. The site 

 chosen for the nest is generally in a low 

 bush or tuft of grass near the water's edge 

 and never at a very great distance from the 

 ground. 



Eggs. — From four to six eggs are laid, 

 which are of a greenish grey or brownish grey, 

 more or less indistinctly feckled over with 

 a darker shade of the same colour. The 

 feckling almost, and sometimes entirely 

 covers the ground colour. Sometimes there 

 is one or more black streaks about the large 

 end. 



Varieties.— Mr. A. N. Treadgold has 

 sent me a pale variety of this egg which is 



almost white. He says this variety is not 

 uncommon in the neighbourhood of Gran- 

 tham. 



39. REED WARBLER. 



Sylvia streperus. 



Streperus, probably from Stnpa (L.) to 

 make a noise, being a very noisy bird. 



Size. — Length, 5^ in. ; expanse, 8^ to 9 



in. 



Plumage. — Bill pale horn colour; 

 eyes brown. The whole of the upper parts 

 are light brown, rather darker on the wings 

 and tail. The colour is uniform, thus differ- 

 ing from the last species. A pale streak 

 extends over the eyes. Under parts whiter 

 than in the Sedge Warbler, Legs horn 

 colour. The sexes are similar in plumage. 



Inmature Birds are coloured more like 

 the Sedge Warbler, all the feathers on the 

 back and head having a dark centre. The 

 under parts are much tinged with yellow, 

 and the breast has a few spots of dark 

 colour. I am indebted to Mr. F. Kerry, of 

 Harwich, for having sent me both adult and 

 young birds of this species. 



Varieties are rare. Mr. Bond has a 

 one in his collection. 



Note.—The song is very variable, much 

 sweeter than that of the Sedge Warbler, 

 often imitating other birds, and like the 

 Sedge bird singing very late evening. 



Flight. — Similar to the last species ; 

 very restless, continually on the move, and 

 often singing at the time. 



Migration. — a summer visitor to 

 this country, arriving towards the end of 

 April, and departing at the beginning o 

 September. 



Food. — Small insects of all kinds, es- 

 pecially those of aquatic habit, and which 

 are most abundant at the places the bird 

 inhabits. 



