THE WOOD-WARBLER. -^35 



The Wood-warbler is much less frequent than either 

 the Willow-warbler or Chiff-chafF, and on a close inspec- 

 tion may be distinguished by its superior size, by the pure 

 white of its under tail-coverts, and by the bright yellow 

 line above the eye. The nest is composed of grass, ferns, 

 and moss, and lined with fine grass and hair ; it is covered 

 with a dome, an entrance being left sufficiently large to 

 allow its contents to be seen, and is placed on the ground, 

 in or near a wood, among thick herbage, or against the 

 stump of a tree. The eggs are from five to seven in 

 number, almost round, and so thickly spotted with purple- 

 brown that the ground is almost invisible. 



THE WILLOW-WAEBLEE. 



SYLVIA TROCHILUS. 



Upper parts bright olive-green ; a narrow streak of yellow over the eye ; under 

 parts yellowish white, palest in the middle ; feathers of the leg yellow ; second 

 primary equal to the sixth ; third, fourth, and fifth with the outer web sloped 

 off at the extremity ; feet stoutish ; legs light brown. Length nearly live 

 inches ; breadth eight. Eggs white, more or less speckled with rust colour. 



There seems to be no sufiicient reason why this bird 

 should be named Willow-warbler or Willow-wren, as it 

 shows no special preference for willows, nor does it 

 frequent watery places. The popular name, " Hay-bird," 

 is I think the better of the two ; for, except in the extreme 

 west of England, wherever there are hay-fields and trees 

 these birds are to be found ; they build their nests princi- 

 pally of hay, and very frequently place it in the border of 

 a hay-field. But, by whatever name it is known, it is a 

 cheerful and active little bird, to which our woods and 

 groves are much indebted for their melody. It is abun- 

 dant and generally diffused, arriving in England about the 

 middle of April, and remaining until October. During the 

 greater part of this period, it may be seen fluttering about 

 the tops of trees, hunting the tAvigs and leaves for insects, 



