As the four Hobbits and Strider approached the Midgewater Marshes, they found there to be thousands of annoying cricket-like creatures, living in the reeds and tussocks. They made a squeaky noise similar to "neek-breek, breek-neek." This noise continued for the whole night, irritating the Hobbits greatly. The next morning, Sam called them Neekerbreekers, because of the sound they created.