THE WILLOW-WARBLERS. 10J 



Habits. — The Wood-Warbler is one of the most beautiful 

 little birds which visit England in the spring. It appears 

 about the end of April, and its presence is at once made 

 known by its cheery song. Its name of " Wood- Warbler," or 

 " Wood-Wren," is in every way appropriate, for it is essentially 

 a bird of the woods, and it is just when the latter are putting 

 forth their fresh green leaves that the Wood- Warbler appears in 

 our midst. By listening for the trill of the little songster he can 

 soon be discovered, sitting probably for an instant on a bough at 

 some distance from the ground, and then flying off to the slender 

 twigs to examine the leaves above and below in search of 

 insects. Then he will sometimes fly out from the tree and 

 catch a passing insect, after the manner of a Flycatcher ; and, 

 returning to its perch, break out into song again. When the 

 birds first arrive, several are to be heard in the same wood, 

 answering each other's song, and trilling joyously. Sometimes 

 the bird begins to sing in mid-air as he is flying from one tree 

 to another, and finishes his song as he lights on his new perch, 

 and in every movement the Wood- Warbler is an embodiment 

 of grace and elegance, while its easy flight often resembles 

 that of a Butterfly. The song is imitated by Mr. Seebohm by the 

 following words, chit-chit chit-chit chitre tr-tr-tr-tr-tre ; this 

 really gives a very good idea of the opening note, which is pro- 

 nounced as if the bird were bubbling over with the idea of a 

 song and could not get it out quickly enough ; but the mellow- 

 ness of the final trill cannot be produced by any form of words, 

 and must be heard to be appreciated and remembered. The 

 female is a very shy bird, and is not often seen j but the neigh- 

 bourhood of the nest is often pointed out by the singing of 

 the male bird, who warbles continually near the spot until the 

 hatching of the eggs gives him a more important occupation. 

 But even if the vicinity of the nest be discovered, it is by no 

 means easy to find the nest itself, for it is always well con- 

 cealed on the ground hidden among the grass, and scarcely 

 to be distinguished from the surroundings. 



Nest. — Partly domed over, and made of grass, with a few 

 dead leaves or a little moss, but is lined with horsehair, not 

 with feathers, as in the allied species of Warbler. 



Eggs. — From five to seven. Ground-colour white, thickly 



