218 

 THE WILLOW WRENS, (SYLVIA.) 



BY 0. S, ROUND, ESQ. 



This is a peculiarly interesting genus, forming with the Swallow tribe the 

 most prominent feature in our summer accession of birds. They are at once 

 the lightest, and most airy and pretty creatures that haunt the woods, or flit 

 in the garden, delicate in colour and form, their wild laughing notes ushering 

 in the callbw young birds in a most charming manner; and no one, I am 

 satisfied, who has any fancy in his composition, can call the sound to mind 

 without the most pleasing associations of remembrance. Naturalists have made 

 out five kinds of these birds; four more or less common, and the fifth a rare 

 species, called the Garden Warbler. The first of these is an early visitor, 

 and from the note he utters first about Lady-day, on the tall and yet leafless 

 oaks, has obtained the name of the "Chiff Chafi"." It is well indeed that he 

 comes so early, for his appearance is not nearly so taking as that of his 

 congeners. He is about as big as a Cole Titmouse, of rather a short make, 

 •and of a very dull greyish olive above, and dull white beneath — a very light 

 line passing over his eye. From coming to cheer us so early we have the 

 fall value of his joyous voice, and bare woods and dull weather set him off 

 to great advantage. 



The next in order come the three Willow Wrens — the Common, Less, and 

 Least. The first must be so well known with his yellowish green upper 

 plumage, and silvery white under parts, that I will not insult my readers 

 by describing him more minutely, more especially as individuals differ nothing 

 in appearance. He seems contemporary with the birch leaves, and flits about 

 them as soon, or even before they can afford him shelter; perpetually in motion 

 from twig to twig, now hanging pendant, now sitting and peering about in 

 quest of prey; he leaves no bud unsearched, no twig uninvestigated; he seems 

 perpetually on the move from morn till night; and as unwearied at his very 

 earliest arrival as if he had performed no journey, traversed no seas, and 

 undergone no hardships of fatigue. His lesser brethren partake of his habits 

 exactly, but I think they are darker and duller looking birds, if indeed we 

 may speak in the plural; for with regard to the Least, there is, I believe, 

 some scepticism. However Bewick, and several other naturalists, have made 

 it a distinct species, and as it has black legs, whilst the others have flesh- 

 coloured, I think they are sufficiently warranted in so doing. 



There is another bird so strikingly similar to the Willow Wren that I must 

 class it with them; naturalists call it the Wood Wren, (Sylvia sihilatrix.) 

 It is nowhere numerous, but a pair or two are found in most places. The 

 chief characteristics of this species is a slight superiority in size over the 

 Willow Wren, a greater yellowness of plumage, and a greater length of wing 

 ■ — the wings almost reaching to the end of the tail when closed; his manners 

 are also very different, for he is much more sedate and measured in his 

 movements, and instead of the wild joyful note of the Willow Wren, utters 



