SYLVIADA, Til 
Woop WarsterR, Sylvia sylvicola. The Wood 
Warbler, or “ Wood Wren,” as it is more commonly 
called, is not rare in this county, but its distribution 
is very local, being pretty common in some parts and 
scarcely known in others. In my own immediate 
neighbourhood I have not been able to find it: on 
the other side of Taunton, however, near Orchard 
Portman and Monkton, it is more common, as it is 
also in the neighbourhood of Wiveliscombe. It is 
partial to thick plantations, which keep it a good 
deal out of sight. It is a late summer visitor, 
seldom arriving in this country before the end of 
April. 
The Wood Warbler is a great friend of the 
gardener, as (according to Yarrell) it eats neither 
fruit nor berries, its food being insects and their 
larve: of these some are taken on the wing, and 
some are sought for amongst the upper foliage of 
trees: small black beetles seem also to form part of 
its food. 
The nest of the Wood Warbler is placed on the 
sround in woods under a tuft of grass: itis made of 
moss, dried grass and dead leaves, and is lined with 
fine grass and hair: like the nests of the Chifichatf 
and Willow Warbler, it is domed or hooded.* 
Not at present having a Wood Wren in my col- 
lection to refer to, I have taken the following 
* Hewitson. 
L2 
