6 
WILLOW-WREN FEIGNING INJURY. 
On July 14th I came 
unexpectedly upon a 
Willow-Wren (Phyllo- 
scopus trochilus) with 
young, which were 
scarcely able te fly. 
The bird was evidently 
quite unprepared and 
much startled. To 
hold my _ attention 
while the young es- 
caped, she flew on to 
some wooden palings 
and most realistically 
feigned injury. Stand- 
DIAGRAMMATIC SKETCH OF THE ATTITUDE OF ing on her right leg, 
THE WILLOW-WREN FEIGNING INJURY she trailed the left 
behindher. The right 
wing was allowed to hang open, as if the humerus were 
broken, and the tail-feathers were spread out. The feathers 
at the throat and rump were puffed out, the head thrown 
on one side, and the bill slightly opened. The bird gave 
several curious squeaky little calls, which were quite unlike 
the Willow-Wren’s plaintive notes of alarm. She allowed 
me to watch her movements from a distance of a few feet, 
and did not assume an ordinary attitude until the young 
birds had taken cover in a dense potato-patch. As soon as 
she judged the danger to be past, she flew off into a small 
fruit-tree near by, and called to them in the usual way. 
The Chifchaff one hears, but rarely sees, and I have 
never found it nesting. The same may be said of the 
Whitethroats. The song of the Common Whitethroat is 
very often heard in early summer and greatly enjoyed; 
although the nettles in the dry ditch would seem suitable, 
it does not breed in the garden. The Lesser Whitethroat 
I have seen, but it is much less common that its congener. 
Of the Sparrow, I think, that which applies to any 
garden, suits equally here. Heis everywhere—at all times— 
breeds apparently the year round, and feeds on anything 
which comes to hand. Although no special means are 
employed to keep down his numbers, and he is not much 
molested, I find him much less bold and trustful than 
the Robin. 
