REED WARBLER. 
J 19 
WSESSOKES. 
DEN TIE OS IRES. 
S YL VIA DJE. 
REED WARBLER. 
Salicaria Strepera. 
S. Arundinacea. 
PLATE XXXII. PIGS. I. AND II. 
The nest of the Reed Warbler is one of the most 
beautiful of those of our British Birds, and reminds 
one, when looking at it, of some of those curious struc¬ 
tures which the same natural instinct has taught the 
gaily-coloured inhabitants of other lands to form, as a 
protection from the dangers that surround them. 
Were it not for its peculiarly-formed nest, the young 
ones of this species would be subjected to as much 
danger from every passing breeze, as the birds of tro¬ 
pical countries have to dread from their numerous 
enemies. To pursue the comparison still further, there 
is as much ingenuity shown in entwining the nest of 
this species, and binding it round the several reeds to 
wdiich it is attached, as is displayed in the leaf-cradled 
nest of the tailor bird. 
Built, as the nest of this bird is, high upon the reeds, 
which are agitated by every wind that blows, the eggs 
would be in continual clanger of rolling out, were it 
not for the admirable adaptation of the nest, which is 
so small in its diameter, and so much deeper, in pro¬ 
portion to its size, than the nests of other birds, that 
although, as observed by Montague, the reeds amongst 
