70 WILLOW-WREN. 



of birds pass on to the oases of Africa, and some even to Cape 

 Colony. It is not improbable that a limited number pass the 

 summer in suitable localities in Northern Africa. 



The domed nest, loosely constructed of dry grass, and always 

 lined with feathers, is generally placed among long herbage on the 

 ground, but sometimes at the foot of a bush; exceptionally up to four 

 feet from the ground, or even in a hole in a wall. The shape of the 

 nest has procured for this species and its congeners the name of 

 "Oven-birds"; while in many places the Willow- Wren is also known 

 as the " Hay-bird," from the dry materials employed, or perhaps 

 from the fact that the nest is often found in the corner of a hay-field. 

 The 6-8 eggs are white, blotched and speckled with much lighter 

 red than is the case with the eggs of the Chiffchaff, but exceptionally 

 they are pure white: average measurements '62 by 46 in. In 

 England the first brood is hatched about the middle of May, a second 

 being often produced in June. The merry song of the Willow- 

 Wren, consisting of a few often-repeated notes, may be heard during 

 the season in nearly every coppice ; and sometimes calls attention 

 in our London parks to a begrimed songster which would otherwise 

 be almost unrecognizable. When the bird is aware that its nest is 

 approached, or when calling its young together, its usual note is a 

 plaintive wJdt or tewy, and at such times great solicitude and dis- 

 regard of danger are displayed. Inasmuch as its food consists 

 chiefly of flies, aphides^ and other insects, this species is useful to 

 the gardener, although it pecks and damages currants and other fruit 

 to an unimportant extent. 



The adult male in spring has the upper parts olive-green, yellower 

 on the rump ; a yellowish streak over the eye and ear-coverts ; 

 wings and tail olive-brown, margined with greenish-yellow ; under 

 parts yellowish-white, more sulphur-coloured on the flanks ; under 

 wing-coverts brimstone-yellow ; bill, legs and feet brown. Length 

 4*9 in. ; wing 27 in. ; tarsus 7 in. The sexes are alike in plumage. 

 In autumn the general tint is yellower, especially in young birds. 



Varieties of the Willow- Wren are uncommon ; but in May 1861 

 a primrose-coloured bird was shot in Surrey (Harting), and in 

 August of the same year a similar example was shot in Suffolk 

 (Stevenson). 



The Willow-Wren may be distinguished from the Chiffchaff by its 

 larger size, generally yellower tinge, paler tarsi, and by having the 

 outer edges of the primaries emarginated as far only as the 5th 

 inclusive ; whereas in the Chiffchaff the 6th is also emarginated. 



