Fig. 247.—The Night Warbler (Salicaria arundinacea, Yarrell).
The Sedge Warbler (Salicaria phragmites, Yarrell) is a delicate, lively little bird, haunting the margins of streams and pools overgrown with weeds, sedges, and other aquatic plants, in the midst of which it seeks its food, and nestles so secretly that it very frequently eludes observation. Mr. McGillivray found a nest of this species on the marshy borders of Duddingston Loch, near Edinburgh. It was placed in the midst of a large clump of Solanum dulcamara, supported by the branches, and so hidden that he only found it after cutting off a great number of flowering twigs. This nest was composed of leaves, grasses, and other slender plants, loosely but neatly put together.
The Night Warbler (Salicaria arundinacea, Yarrell), [Fig. 247], closely resembles the preceding in form and size. Its song is loud, cheerful, and much diversified, night being generally selected for the display of its vocal powers. Its nest is composed of blades and stalks of grasses, lined with finer plants and hair; is of a conical form, with the apex downwards; in depth from four to five inches externally, and three in the interior, and as much in breadth at the top; and is fastened to the stalks of several reeds, placed some distance above the ground—"an arrangement," says Montagu, "which gives security to the eggs," which are four or five in number, of an oblong shape, greyish-brown colour, spotted with dark olive, and usually marked with one or two blackish, irregular lines.
Fig. 248.—The Robin, or Redbreast (Erythaca rubecula, Yarrell).
The Warbler known to French writers as la Fauvette Couturière is the most curious of all in respect to the manner of building its nest. Aided by bill and claws, it stretches out into a thread fibres gathered from the trees; selecting broad resistant leaves, it drills them with its bill, sews them together with the cotton which it has prepared, and in this manner constructs a bag which serves the purpose of completely hiding its nest from the observation of enemies. This species belongs to India and the islands of the Indian Ocean, and is unknown in Europe.
Among other well-known species we may mention the Garden Warbler (Carruca hortensis, Selby), known also as the Whitethroat, Greater Prettychaps, and other pet names; also the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), both of which abound near dwelling-houses surrounded by gardens.
Fig. 249.—Wrens (Regulus cristatus, Temm.).