In a wild state these birds feed entirely on insects, such as flies, moths, butterflies, spiders, ants; and their eggs, small beetles, and numerous other sorts, so that in confinement they will frequently require insect food.
THE REED WARBLER.
Sylvia arundinacea, Latham; La Fauvette des Roseaux, Buffon; Der Teichsänger oder Sumpfsänger, Bechstein.
This species has been confounded, not only with others with a greenish plumage that are analogous, but in describing it with the reed thrush (Turdus arundinaceus, Linn.), and in its manner of life with the black-bonnet, or reed bunting (Emberiza Schæniclus, Linn.). It is five inches in length, of which the tail measures two. The beak, seven lines long, resembles that of the arbour bird, brown above and yellowish beneath; the iris is chestnut brown; the shanks are eight lines high, and ash grey; the forehead is very long, greenish grey; the rest of the upper part of the body, including the wing-coverts, are of the same colour, tinged with olive; the rump is paler; a straw-coloured line extends above the eyes; the cheeks are olive brown; the under part of the body is yellowish white; the knees are olive grey; the anterior quill-feathers are dusky; the secondary are dark brown; all are edged with olive grey; the tail-feathers have the same colour as the quill-feathers, but with a wider olive grey border; the tail is very much rounded, and nearly wedge-formed.
There is little difference in the female. Her head is pale brown: a white line passes across the eyes; the upper part is reddish grey, tinged with olive; the under part, except the throat, which is white, is pale grey, tinged with yellow; the quill-feathers are darker brown than the tail, with an olive grey border.
Habitation.—When wild they are found throughout Europe, wherever rushes and reeds abound. They arrive in Germany towards the middle of April, and leave it the beginning of September. As they are very delicate, in the house they must be kept in a nightingale’s cage.
Food.—When wild it feeds on all kinds of aquatic insects, and, when these fail, on berries. In the house, independently of nightingale’s food, it requires in a cage all the insects that can be caught, as flies, water-spiders, and gnats.
Breeding.—The nest, rather long and very ingeniously fastened to the stems of the reeds or the branches of bushes by the water side, is constructed of pieces of dried grass, of which the largest are on the outside, and the finer within; these are sometimes mixed with wool and hair. The eggs, five or six in number, are greenish white, streaked and speckled with olive green. The young ones can only be reared on ants’ eggs.