MARSH WARBLER 
49 
seen and heard at the same time, while the resem- 
blance between the Marsh and Sedge Warblers is 
also quite close enough to make them very difficult 
for the eye to distinguish as they slip about in the 
thick midsummer herbage. The really conspicuous 
points of distinction in the Marsh Warbler are its 
song, and still more its nest and eggs. Its song strikes 
the ear as clearly belonging to the same family as 
the Reed Warbler's and Sedge Warbler's, but it is 
much more sweet and melodious than either, only 
very rarely falling into the harsh, grating notes 
which are frequent in the Reed Warbler's song, 
and much more conspicuous still in the Sedge 
Warbler's. It is also a remarkable mimic of the 
songs of other birds. As for the nest and eggs, 
they are quite unlike those of any other British 
species. The nest is built mainly of dry, benty 
stems and grasses, with a little moss or wool, and 
lined with horsehair, being not very unlike a rather 
shapeless and untidy Whitethroat's. But its pecu- 
liarity is the way in which it is hung by its sides 
and edges to the stems of the meadow-sweet, 
willow-saplings, and other marsh vegetation in a 
pendent, basket-like manner, which is half-way 
between the ordinary method by which most birds 
support their nests upon such green undergrowth, 
and the Reed Warbler's peculiarly neat and remark- 
able way of slinging its nest to the upright reeds. 
£ 
