I have heard members of this species imitate the notes of the Landrail, Common Sparrow, Nightingale, Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Robin, Swallow, and Blackbird. In the case of the last three species an individual mimicked all their notes within half a minute, not pausing as the Marsh Warbler does, but running straight on in a breathless hurry, and then turning back to repeat the whole over again. The alarm cry of the Sedge Warbler when disturbed is a harsh _churr_. It also has another, sounding something like _tut-tut_. The bird makes use of a soft call resembling _wheet-wheet_. [Illustration: marsh landscape] =THE LESSER REDPOLE.= [Illustration: frond with small flowers] This is the smallest of our Finches, measuring only about four and a half inches in length. Its crown is crimson-red, hind part of head and rest of upper parts dark brown, the feathers being edged with reddish-brown. Upper tail-coverts tinged with crimson. Wings and tail dusky, edged with pale reddish-brown, the latter forked. Chin black, throat and breast rose-pink to vermilion, rest of under parts light greyish, streaked on the sides with dull brown. The female is rather smaller, and lacks the red on her breast and upper tail-coverts. The Lesser Redpole has bred, somewhat erratically it is true, in nearly every county in England, but is most numerous in the northern counties and in Scotland. It also nests in Ireland, where it is scarcer in the south than the north. Its nest is a very pretty little structure made of a few slender, dead twigs (used as a foundation), dead grass stalks, moss, and rootlets beautifully lined with willow down and occasionally hair and feathers. It is built in willows, alders, firs, hawthorn, birch, hazel, and other trees and bushes. It has also been found in heather. The eggs, which number from four to six, are of a very pale bluish-green ground colour, spotted generally about the larger end with orange-red, and sometimes streaked with a darker tint. The song of this species is not of a high order in regard to quality, and has been variously described by different authorities. Professor Newton says, “Towards the end of winter the cocks break out in song, which, though not powerful, is lively and agreeable, and begin to indulge in the characteristic exultant flight during which it is generally uttered.” Mr. Henry Seebohm describes it as “a short, monotonous trill, clear and not unmusical”; whilst Bechstein’s judgment is that “Its feeble warblings are only a low, continued twittering.” [Illustration: LESSER REDPOLE’S NEST AND EGGS] In spite, however, of its shortcomings as a vocalist, it is a favourite cage pet, especially with children, because of its boldness, docility, and intelligence.