WOOD-WREN 



499 



being shorter than the overlying greater coverts, and the brightness 

 of its colouring. The head has a sulphur-yellow eye-stripe, but the 

 general colour of the upper surface is yellowish green, brighter on the 

 crown of the head and tail-coverts than elsewhere, the feathers of the 

 wing and tail being, however, dusky with yellowish -green edges : with 

 the exception of the throat and flanks, which arc coloured like the 

 eyebrow-stripe, and the pale yellow wing-coverts, the under-parts 

 are white. A greener tinge above and less brilliant yellow below 

 characterise the hen ; whereas young birds, which are coloured like 

 the females above, are much yellower below. 



A summer-visitor to Europe, the wood-wren is essentially a local 

 species, being, in fact, what may be termed capricious in its distribution. 

 It is found, for instance, in 

 Sweden, but not in Norway, 

 and in Spain, but not in 

 Portugal. Finland forms the 

 northern, the Kazan district of 

 Russia and Turkey the eastern, 

 and Algeria the southern limits 

 of its breeding-range, but during 

 migration it visits Asia Minor, 

 while its winter home is Africa. 

 The latter part of April marks 

 its appearance in Great Britain, 

 where the species is to be met 

 with all over the country, except 

 the north of Scotland, the Heb- 

 rides, and the Isle of Man, where it is only a straggler. It is, however, 

 known to have nested in Sutherlandshire. In Ireland it is the rarest of 

 all the regular summer warblers. 



In 1907 the species was recorded from Fair Isle, Shetland, where 

 several specimens were captured ; while one example was taken at 

 Sule Skerry, Orkney, in the same year. Previous to this the species 

 was unknown in either the Orkneys or Shetlands. 



The name of wood -wren admirably fits the species, as its 

 characteristic song is to be heard in woods as the annual transforma- 

 tion scene is taking place in spring. From five to seven eggs are laid 

 in a partially domed nest, made chiefly of grass, lined with hair, and 

 placed on the ground in covert amid grass. The eggs themselves 

 are white, with purplish-brown spots (or occasionally blotches) and 

 underlying markings of lavender-grey. 



WOUU-WKE.N. 



