_about 5/8 Nat. size_]
"The Sedge Warbler," says Mr. Yarrell, "is a summer visitor to this
country, arriving in April and leaving again in September, but on
one occasion a single specimen was observed near High Wycombe, in
Buckinghamshire, in winter. Immediately on its arrival it takes to thick
cover by the water-side, and is much more frequently heard than seen;
though it may occasionally be observed flitting on the uppermost twigs
of the willows it inhabits, giving rapid utterance to a succession of
notes as it flies from one branch to another. White, of Selborne, appears
to have first made Pennant acquainted with this species, and, with his
usual acuteness, detailed the habits of the bird, particularly remarking
its power of imitating the notes of other birds and its singing at
night. The observations of others in various localities have confirmed
the accuracy of his remarks, and the Sedge Warbler, in the situations
it frequents, may be heard throughout the day, and frequently during a
summer night, imitating the notes of various birds in a somewhat confused
and hurried manner; and should he desist for a few minutes' rest, it is
only necessary to throw a stone or clod of dirt among the bushes--he
will immediately commence a series of repetitions, but seldom quits his
covered retreat." "The marshy banks of the Thames, on either side of
the river, where beds of reeds or willows abound," continues the same
accurate writer, "are well stocked with this bird; although, from the
wet and muddy nature of the ground, they are not very easy to get at. In
the southern and western counties it occurs in Hampshire, Dorsetshire,
Devonshire, Cornwall, and in Wales; and is a summer visitor to the
north of Ireland. It occurs also in the marshes of Essex, in Suffolk,
Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Lancashire, and was
traced by Mr. Selby, in Sutherlandshire, to the northern extremity of
the island; it was found pretty generally distributed along the margins
of the lochs, particularly where low birchen coppice and reedy grass
abounded. The well-known babbling notes of this wakeful little songster
proclaimed its presence in many unexpected situations."
* * * * *
The GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS (_Locustella_) constitute a group presenting
the following characteristics:--Their slender body is much deeper than
it is broad; the awl-shaped beak, wide at its base; the foot of moderate
height, and toes long; the wings, in which the second and third quills
exceed the rest in length, are short and rounded; the tail is broad,
of medium size, graduated at its extremity, and the feathers are of
unusual length. The rest of the plumage is soft and delicate, usually
of a brownish green above, with dark spots on the back and upper part
of the breast. The voice of these birds is very remarkable, the sounds
they produce being very similar to the chirping notes of the cricket or
grasshopper. All frequent localities overgrown with grass or plants,
and differ as to their habits in many essential particulars from other
members of the family.