190 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



The first of the throng of summer visitants is the little chifF-chafF or 

 middle-willow wren (Sylvia hippolais.) This bird is oftener heard than 

 seen ; because, on its first arrival, it frequents the tops of lofty trees, 

 seeking its food among the opening buds. They arrive in Britain sooner 

 or later according to the forwardness of the season. Sometimes as early 

 as the 20th of February ; but if the winter be continued into the spring, 

 they defer their visit till the end of March or beginning of April. If 

 stormy or frosty weather set in after their arrival they take shelter 

 among the thickest branches of fir trees, or on the ivy-covered trunks of 

 the oak. In fine sunshine days, however, they are seen on the topmost 

 boughs, every now and then chanting their short unvaried love song of 

 chiff-chafF, chiff-chafF, for several minutes at a stretch. Although they 

 pass the greater part of their lives on trees, they nestle and breed on the 

 ground. The place for their nest is chosen with much sagacity ; not in 

 a hole on the surface exposed to the light and eye of every enemy : but 

 in the brow of a ditch, or steep bank, concealed by overhanging herbage, 

 and to which the bird enters laterally. It is remarkable, too, that they 

 prefer the bank of the ditch farthest from the hedge, if there be one ; 

 so that if disturbed by a passenger, they flit from the nest without dis- 

 covering the identical spot. The nest is small and neatly formed of 

 withered leaves of grass, moss, and slender bents. The brood generally 

 five or six. 



The next warbler in order of arrival is the redstart (Sylvia phcenicurus.) 

 This beautiful bird arrives about the first of April, and is known by the 

 quick vibrations of his red tail : hence the common name. They roost 

 and build their nests in holes of trees or old walls, laying usually five 

 blue eggs. The male bird stations himself on the top of tall trees, and 

 thence pours forth, at short intervals, his brief, though not unpleasant 

 strain. He captures winged insects; and may be often seen on the 

 ground searching among decayed leaves and herbage for the larva of 

 beetles, tipulidse, &c. They generally migrate about the end of 

 September. 



The next insect-eating warbler to be noticed, and which follows in the 

 train of the preceding, is the smallest willow wren (Sylvia trochilus.) 

 Except two, viz., the common wren {Sylvia troglotydes), and the golden- 

 crested wren (Sylvia regulus), this is the smallest British bird. They arrive 

 about the 10th of April, and are constantly employed flitting from spray 

 to spray of trees and bushes for small caterpillars rolled up in the young 

 foliage. Their song is a short strain of ten or twelve notes, graduated 

 from a pretty high, to a low note, scarcely audible. Except that they are 

 somewhat smaller, and of a bright yellow on the throat and breast, they 

 very much resemble the chiff-chaflf, their manner of nestling and economy 

 being very similar. 



There is yet another willow or wood wren (Sylvia sylvicola), which 

 appears in the south of England about a fortnight after the preceding. 

 This bird is rather longer than the chifF-chaff, but resembles it very 

 much in colour and action. It is easiest discovered by its song, and 

 place where it is always met with. Like the Sylvia trochilus it sings a 

 short graduated strain of fourteen or sixteen notes, commencing high, 

 and finishing in a demi-semiquavered slurred cadenza ; the three or four 

 first notes distinctly staccato to introduce the descending passage. They 

 are most frequently met with in hollow woods, perching on the lower 

 boughs, and every now and then piping their joyous song. Like their 

 congeners, they nestle under tufts of grass or briers on the ground, and 

 are well concealed. It is observable the young broods of all the three 

 congregate and feed together after the breeding season, at which time it 



