374 PHYLLOPNEUSTE TROCHILUS. 



These most probably are young birds reared in the southern 

 regions during the absence of the species, or at least young 

 birds of the previous year, which have been long in moulting. 



Male and Female in Summer. — As the season advances, 

 the upper parts become of a nearly uniform greyish -brown, the 

 yellow tints fade, so that the line over the eye becomes nearly 

 white, as does the greater part of the lower surface. The 

 new plumage is completed by the middle of September, when 

 they take their departure. 



Habits. — The Willow Woodwren arrives in the south of 

 England early in April, and in the middle parts of Scotland 

 about the 20th or 25th of that month, resorting to woods and 

 thickets, especially those in the neighbourhood of water, where 

 it remains until its departure late in September. It is extreme- 

 ly vivacious, and is seen briskly flitting about among the twigs, 

 in search of insects, frequently making little excursions on 

 wing in pursuit of a fly, and sometimes betaking itself to the 

 ground, where it liops and frisks with equal activity. It flies 

 with rapidity, in an undulating manner, but is seldom seen to 

 perform long flights, and indeed is not very liable to be scared, 

 for, at all times it seems to feel secure among the branches, 

 and, during the breeding season, instead of quitting its usual 

 place of abode on the approach of man, it advances toward 

 him, flitting from twig to twig with restless anxiety. Al- 

 though it sometimes appears in gardens, it prefers plantations 

 and shrubbery in places remote from houses, and is frequently 

 seen among willojvs and osiers. In the copses of hazel, oak, 

 and alder, that skirt the streams of many of the Scottish val- 

 leys, it is a very frequent resident, although, "from its diminu- 

 tive size, unobtrusive manners, and plain tints, it excites little 

 interest in the passing traveller. Its food consists of insects of 

 various kinds, even of considerable size, as I have found re- 

 mains of Muscae in its stomach, as well as larvae and pupag, 

 together with aphides. While flitting about, it emits a small 

 shrill cheep, and during a great part of the season, but espe- 

 cially in May and June, may often be heard chanting its soft, 



