SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



species (observes Montagu), but probably appears 

 less so by its habit of concealing itself amongst the 

 furze and thick hedges, discovering its place of 

 concealment only by its singular cricket-like 

 note, which is so exactly like that of the mole 

 cricket as scarcely to be distinguished. 



Mr. Sweet says they are very rare in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London, but are frequently seen in 

 Norfolk and Suffolk, and in various other parts. 

 We have found it (says Montagu) in Hampshire, in 

 South Wales, and in Ireland, but nowhere so plen- 

 tiful as on Malmsbury Common, in Wiltshire, to 

 which place the males come about the second week 

 in April. At this time only they expose themselves 

 upon the top branches of the furze, and are con- 

 tinually making their singular chirping notes, their 

 only song. As soon as the females arrive, which is 

 in about ten days after, the males no longer expose 

 themselves, and are almost silent till about the 

 dusk of the evening, when they are incessantly 

 crying, — possibly to decoy the larger species of 

 grasshoppers or mole crickets, which begin their 

 chirping with the setting sun. 



The Grasshopper bird, though it is classed with 

 the aquatic warblers, differs from those birds, and 

 indeed from all the true warblers, in plumage and 

 expression, as well as in haunt and habits. The 

 true warblers, whether aquatic or sylvan, have 

 the colour on the back entire, even when there are 

 strong markings on the other parts ; but the upper 

 part of the Grasshopper bird is mottled brown, 

 and the whole dress has a tinge of that hue which 



