SVLVIIN^. 



63 



THE WILLOW-WREN. 



Phylloscopus trochilus (LinnKLis). 



The Willow- Wren makes its appearance in the southern portions 

 of this country about the first week in April, and from that time 

 until the middle of September it is by far th.e most abundant of 

 the three species of small greenish-yellow Warblers which annually 

 visit us. In England it is generally distributed, although somewhat 

 local in Cornwall : and it seems to be only fairly common in some 

 parts of Wales. To Scotland it is a regular and abundant summer- 

 visitor, and in the northern districts its numbers have considerably 

 increased of late years ; but to the Orkneys, Shetlands and Faeroes it 

 appears to be only a straggler. In Ireland it is common in suitable 

 localities. Occurrences of this little bird in winter, in the milder 

 districts of our islands, have often been recorded. 



In summer the Willow-Wren ranges nearly as far as the northern 

 extremity of the Continent, and southward we find it breeding 

 throughout the greater part of Europe down to the Straits of 

 (Gibraltar Eastward it certainly nests in Transylvania ; but in 

 South Russia, Turkey, Greece, Asia IMinor, Persia and Palestine it 

 is only known to occur in winter and on migration. Its summer 

 range extends over Northern Russia and Siberia to the valley of the 

 Yenesei ; while its winter quarters may be said to begin in the south 

 of France, but the majority pass on to the oases of Africa, and 



