140 
SEDGE WARBLER. 
to be suspended, but the situation is so chosen 
that several convenient stalks support the fabric, 
and are often wrought into its substance. It is 
composed of moss, dry grasses, and leaves, lined 
with the finer grasses and hair, and is often of a 
rather large but careless form. The eggs are 
small, from six to seven in number, and of a pale 
wood brown, minutely and confusedly speckled 
with darker shades. 
In localities such as we have mentioned, the 
Sedge Warbler is generally spread over the British 
islands, avoiding the more mountainous districts, 
but reaching to the extremity of Scotland.* In 
Europe, its range extends far northward, reach- 
ing the arctic circle, f It is abundantly distri- 
buted also over the middle and southern parts ; 
and it is recorded by Mr Strickland as being 
found in the vicinity of Smyrna. 
Over each eye a distinct pale yellowish white 
streak ; crown of the head deep yellowish brown, 
marked with deep umber brown ; the marks imme- 
diately above the eye streak confluent, so as to 
form nearly an uninterrupted stripe; back oil 
green, with the centre of each feather darker, 
and nearly umber brown ; rump yellowish brown ; 
wings and tail blackish brown, the latter paler ; 
the quills and coverts margined with pale greyish 
brown ; chin, throat, and centre of the belly nearly 
pure white ; the other under parts yellowish 
white, darkest across the breast. The female 
differs only in the clearness of the colouring, and 
* Selby. t Pennant. 
