Bird Life in a Suburban Parish 89 



" Chip-cliip-t'hip," at such a hei«>lit tluit tlie minute form is 

 barely visible. Tlie bird is smaller than tlie AVillow-wren, 

 and has darker letJS. Tlie nest is domed like the A\"illow- 

 wren"s nest ; l)ut the eggs, instead of being spotted with red, 

 lune dark purple spots. It is very fond of frequenting 

 large gardens with plenty of imdergrowth and low buslies. 



The AVood-wren is more local, and I have not met with 

 it nearer than Broxbourne and Epping Forest. 



By far tlie commonest of the three is the A\"illow-wren, 

 which abounds in e^ery direction. Perhaps the place of all 

 others to look for it with certainty is in the outskirts of 

 a wood or plantation, where the trees are more open, and 

 where bushes, sallow, and such-like predominate amid 

 bracken and coarse grass. Here its slender, yellowish-})rown 

 form may surely be seen searching the twigs and foliage 

 with graceful actions. Here its nest may be found care- 

 fully hidden among the coarse grass and bracken, domed 

 at the top, and comfortably liiied with feathers. On the 

 ground is the usual place, but I ha\e seen one quite three 

 feet high, and there is no doubt that it does occasionally 

 depart from its usual custom. 



The nests are generally found by the bird flying out, 

 for they are by no means easy to discover. On two occasions 

 I have, while waiting near a Nightjar's eggs to photograph 

 the old bird, found a AVillow-wreifs in close proximity 

 by seeing the birds go in and out. They will fcigii lame- 

 ness in order to entice you away from the \'icinity of their 

 eggs or young. 



