MR. W. W. FOWLER O.V BIRDS OF THE VALLEY OF THE SOMME. 415 
us by Mr. Gurney, found the Great Reed Warbler within fifteen 
minutes’ walk from our hotel at Amiens. A boulevard leads from the 
station to a bridge over the Somme; just beyond the bridge the 
broad chaussee runs on a high embankment, with large reedy pools 
on each side of it in deep hollows. From this embankment we at 
once heard the curious loud croaking of the birds we were in 
search of, which reminded me of the noise made by the Gulls at 
the Zoological Gardens when they wish to be fed. No place can 
be better suited for watching the bird than the pool on the right- 
hand side of the road ; for there is a secluded path between 
Alders at the very edge of the water where you can see without 
being seen. The motion of the tall reeds betrays the presence 
of the bird, which will presently emerge from the undergrowth, 
climb a stem, and sing or rather declaim vigorously for many 
minutes without cessation. The song has often been described, 
and 1 will only say of it that it is not unlike that of a Sedge 
Warbler played on a bassoon instead of an oboe ; some of the 
higher and more musical notes are, indeed, to my ear. very like 
the tones of the upper register of the bassoon. Rut the general 
impression left on the ear is that of continual croaking, sometimes 
Frog-like, sometimes Gull-like. 
The Common Reed Warbler was here, the Garden Warbler, 
and a Nightingale; but on this occasion we did not see any other 
species. As we could not make any search for the nest of the 
Great Reed Warbler, owing to the depth of the water, we walked 
up the Somme for about a mile, and presently reached a large 
Mere in which was an island with a small restaurant, calling itself 
“ Tile Robinson” (I presume, after Crusoe), where we hired a Hat- 
bottomed boat, and rowed about for an hour in search of likely 
spots. I landed on one or two reedy islets where the birds were 
active and noisy, but found no nest ; it must have been still too 
early, and the reeds were not sufficiently grown. Pushing up 
a narrow stream or ditch which bounded one of the many 
gardens in this watery region, we saw a Common Sandpiper 
emerge from under a Gooseberry bush, a singular spot in which 
to Hnd such a bird. 
The afternoon was spent in exploring the picturesque old town, 
and in strolling on the chalk hills near the citadel, where we 
hoped to find Crested Larks ; but in this we were disappointed. 
