PASSERES. ( 71 ) SYLVIID^E. 



THE WILLOW WEEN. 



WILLOW WARBLER, GROUND WREN, HAY-BIRD, HUCK-MUCK. 



Phylloscopus trochilus. 



The House-Sparrow buildeth in the eaves, 



The Whitethroat ajid the Willow-bird 

 From, belfries in the curling leaves 



Make their rejoicing matins heard. 



BUTLEK, An April Song. 



The pleasing note of the Willow Wren, which is associ- 

 ated in our memories with the return of spring, is generally 

 heard in this county for the first time in the season, about 

 the third or fourth week of April. ^ 



It is one of the most numerous of our summer visitors, 

 and its joyous little song enlivens every part of our woods 

 and plantations during the early summer months. The 

 sylvan banks of our beautiful streams — the Whitadder, 

 Blackadder, Leader, Dye, and Eye, appear to be favourite 

 resorts of this small warbler, and there the sweet cadence 

 of its strains often falls upon the ear of the angler as he 

 casts his fly over the shady pools, or leisurely walks under 

 the trees — 



In whose cool bowers, tlie birds with many a song, 

 Do welcome with their choir the summer's queen. ^ 



1 Selby says that he has observed that the arrival of this bird may be 

 expected with the first southerly wind as soon as the larch becomes visibly green. 

 —Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. ii. p. 71. 



- Verses by "Jo. Davors, Esq.," in The Complete Angler. 



