I30 
Book Notices and Reviews. 
"Reed Warbler. Description of Parent Birds. Length 
about five and a half inches ; bill slender, medium length and 
straight ; head, neck, back and upper tail coverts a warm chest- 
nut-brown ; shading to a lighter hue on the wings ; tail light 
brown ; wing quills dark brown ; edged with a paler shade ; a 
pale sulphur streak extends from the gape over the eye ; chin 
and throatiTwhite ; breast, belly and under tail-coverts buffish- 
white. Female : very similar indeed to the male, perhaps a 
shade smaller and paler in back colouring. 
''Habitation. Generally common in the Southern, West- 
ern and Midland Counties of England and Wales, on the banks 
of rivers, lakes and streams where reeds abound. 
" Nest and Eggs. The former is almost a work of art, 
being most ingeniously woven into the stems of reeds, to thus 
hold it secure in case of storm or flood. It is very deep and cup 
like in formation, and is composed of dried grass, moss and bents 
with lining of finer materials. Four eggs are the general number 
to a clutch, of a greenish-white colour, heavily mottled and 
spotted with a darker shade of the same colour. Time: June and 
July. 
" Co7intryside Notes. In the tall reed beds at the side of 
some friendly river the Reed Warbler makes his home, and is 
seldom seen or heard many many yards away from his little 
abode, although occasionally he crosses to the other side, think- 
ing perhaps to find some nice plump grub on 5'onder reeds. 
" He is practically unknown in Scotland and Ireland, but 
why this should be, other than unsuitable climate, I cannot say. 
" Often when I have sat by the river as a disciple of Izaak 
Walton, his curious little notes have rung out from the reed beds 
in front of me, when, but for the moving of the reeds, you would 
never know he was there, for he is for the greater part of his life 
liid from view, and it is no easy task to get even a glimpse of 
him, always creeping mouse-like from reed to reed, first head 
downwards, then holding on to two reeds at once, presently turn- 
ing almost a somersault from the upper part of the stem to the 
lower. Constantly, as he moves along, he chatters away with 
great gusto, as if well pleased with himself and those depending 
on him. 
