- THE WILLOW-WARBLER 31 
For two successive years a little yellowish bird, scarcely bigger 
than a wren, has established himself in my garden about the middle 
of April, and sedulously devoted himself to clearing away the 
aphides which infested some China roses trained against the walls 
of my house. Occasionally he would flutter against the windows, 
and give his attention to the spiders and gnats which nestled in 
the corners of the panes. The first year I took him for a Haybird, 
but, only too grateful for his kind offices, I was careful not to molest 
him. When, however, he appeared a second year, exactly at the 
Same season, and performed a series of manceuvres so precisely 
similar that it was impossible to doubt that the bird was not 
merely of the same species, but the same individual, I watched 
him more closely. The dark colour of his feet, as observed from 
within the house, as he was fluttering against the glass, decided 
the point that he was not a Hay-bird, and when he retired to an 
apple-tree hard by and treated himself to a song after his repast, 
no doubt remained that he was a Chiff-chaff. It is not often that 
the Chiff-chaff is thus familiar in its habits. More frequently 
it makes its abode in woods and groves, resembling the Hay- 
bird so closely in size, colour and habits, that to distinguish the 
two is very difficult. The difference of note, however, is decisive ; 
and the colour of the feet (when the bird is near enough to admit 
of being thus distinguished) is another certain criterion. The two 
birds frequent the same trees without rivalry or jealousy. The 
Chiff-chaff is the earliest of our spring visitors, arriving the middle 
of March, and it sings all through the summer; I have heard it as 
late as the thirtieth of September. The nests, popularly called 
“wood-ovens ’, are alike and placed in similar situations ; their eggs are 
of the same size and shape, but those of the Chiff-chaff are spotted 
with very dark purple instead of rust colour. A few occasionally 
remain with us all the year, feeding on winter gnats and the pupae 
of small insects, but remaining wholly silent. Other names by 
which it is known are ‘Chip-chop’ and Lesser Pettichaps. 
THE WILLOW-WARBLER 
PHYLLOSCOPUS TROCHILUS 
Upper parts bright olive-green ; a narrow streak of yellow over the eye ; under 
parts yellowish white, palest in the middle; feathers of the leg yellow ; 
second primary equal to the sixth ; third, fourth, and fifth with the outer 
web sloped off at the extremity ; feet stoutish ; legs light brown. Length 
nearly five inches; breadth eight. Eggs white, more or less speckled 
with rust colour. 
THERE seems to be no sufficient reason why this bird should be 
named Willow-warbler or Willow-wren, as it shows no special 
preference for willows, nor does it frequent watery places. The 
popular name, ‘ Hay-bird’, is, I think, the better of the two ; for, 
