142 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



it has far greater merit than that of the Chiffchaff 

 there seems to be no manner of doubt. 



An extract from Mr. W. H. Hudson's " British 

 Birds," regarding the character of the song may be 

 of some interest. "White says it has a 'sweet 

 plaintive note ' which is but half the truth. It has 

 a long tender delicious warble, not wanting in 

 strength and volume, but eminently pure and sweet — 

 the song of the Chaffinch refined and idealized. The 

 song is perhaps in the minor key, feminine and not 

 masculine, but it touches the heart. The song of 

 the Willow Warbler has a dying fall, no other birds' 

 song is so touching in this respect. It mounts up 

 round and full, then runs down the scale and expires 

 upon the air in a gentle murmur." 



The dome-shaped nest is often on the ground, 

 amonof coarse herbaoe, under a bush, or even in a 

 bank, is constructed loosely of grass and lined with 

 feathers ; eggs — six to seven in number, white, blotched 

 and spotted with reddish-brown. Two broods are 

 generally reared. From the shape of the nest the 

 Willow Wren is often called the "Oven-Bird." Its 

 range extends throughout the greater part of Europe, 

 and it also breeds in Northern Russia and Siberia. 



The specimen in the case was shot in Surrey or 

 Radnorshire. 



The Wren. 

 Family, Trogiodytidce. 

 This homely little species, flitting about with 

 cocked tail and jerky actions, so familiar to us, is 



