THE SEDGE WARBLER. 
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place within that time; this was in 1812, when it was not seen 
until the 13th of the month. In 1836, one was observed as 
early as the 16th of April; and in 1841, on the 18th of that 
month. Although this bird and the whitethroat usually arrive 
about the same time, the sedge warbler is generally the first seen, 
but in 1842, the contrary occurred in the districts which came 
under my own observation, white-throats having appeared on 
the 23rd of April, and the allied species not until the 13th of 
May. The 5th of September is the latest date at which I have 
known it to be met with, — when one was seen and heard to sing on 
the banks of the Lagan; but further observation may perhaps show 
that the bird remains until a later period, as it does in England.* 
The migration of the sedge warbler extends to the extreme north- 
west of Ireland, where on the 1st of July, 1832, I heard and saw 
one near Dunfanaghy : — Mr. Stewart, in his Catalogue of the Birds, 
&c., of Donegal, observes that the species is common. This gentleman 
further remarks that “ it is one of the latest of our spring visitants, 
and certainly one of the most interesting in its manners, though from 
its shy habits and constant restlessness, it is difficult of access; and 
from the unceasing variety of its borrowed song, and its retirement, 
often passed unnoticed. Often have I been so deceived by its 
imitative strain, that on its assuming the clear note of the thrush, 
the hoarse twitter of the sparrow, or the vocal power of some 
other songster, I have given up my pursuit of it, supposing it 
must have stolen off in a different direction, and have only been 
undeceived when it has had recourse to its natural harsh, chid- 
ing, and oft repeated note. Erequently it rises above the brake 
in which, perhaps, concealed his helpmate is assiduously attending 
to the duties of incubation, and beguiles her of her weary hours, 
by imitating the lark, both in its melodious strains and gestures.” 
— Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. v. p. 581. Mr. James R. 
Garrett has frequently heard the sedge warbler make a cricket-like 
noise for a long time, as the grasshopper warbler is described to 
do, and then suddenly burst out into the song of the swallow, or 
some other bird. Throughout the northern counties generally, 
* Selby’s 111. Brit. Orn. vol. i. p. 202. 
