SYLVIIN.T. 



69 





THE WILLOW-WREN. 



Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus). 



The Willow-Wren makes its appearance in the southern portions 

 of this country about the first week in April, and from that time 

 until the middle of September it is by far the most abundant of 

 the three species of small greenish-yellow Warblers which annually 

 visit us. In England it is generally distributed, although somewhat 

 local in Cornwall ; and it is common in suitable parts of Wales. 

 To the mainland of Scotland it is a regular and abundant summer- 

 visitor, and in the northern districts its numbers have considerably 

 increased of late years ; but to the Outer Hebrides, Orkneys and 

 Shetlands (as well as the Faeroes) it appears to be only a wanderer, 

 chiefly in autumn. In Ireland it is very common. Occurrences of 

 this bird in winter, in the milder districts of our islands, have often 

 been recorded. 



The Willow-Wren ranges nearly as far as the northern extremity of 

 the Continent in summer, while southward it breeds throughout the 

 greater part of Europe down to the Straits of Gibraltar, and eastward 

 to the Caucasus ; in Siberia to as far as the valley of the Yenesei. 

 Its winter-quarters may be said to begin in the south of France, and 

 extend throughout the basin of the Mediterranean ; but the majority 



