GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 
143 
The Grasshopper Warbler, Salicaria 
locustella, Selby. — Curruca locustella, Swains. 
— Grasshopper Warbler of British authors. — 
This species, though somewhat similar in its 
manners to the two last, still differs very widely, 
and blends with them the skulking disposition of 
curruca, together with the structure of the nest. 
The situations which it frequents are somewhat 
different also, and it is almost confined to what 
are called “ bottoms,” low lying dells watered by a 
small stream, and clothed with a tangled thicket 
of brushwood, black-thorn and brier, bramble and 
whin, intermixed with the various herbaceous 
plants and rank grasses which overgrow such 
retreats ; here, by persevering watch, it will be 
discovered by its low sibilous note, closely re- 
sembling that uttered by some of the grass- 
hoppers, and serving, no doubt, as Mr Selby ob- 
serves, both to attract the insect and its own mate. 
It is so shy and diffident, that the least noise will 
cause its concealment, and it possesses none of 
the garrulity of the former birds, and cannot be 
brought to recommence its notes by any distur- 
bance among the bushes. The nest is placed in 
the bottom or roots of the low close bushes, some- 
times a little way raised, and has no appearance 
of a pensile character, in structure and materials 
rather resembling those of the last genus. The 
eggs are of a dull white, sometimes of a pinkish 
gray tint, spotted with the same colour, and 
amount in number to from five to seven. 
