THE WOOD WARBLER 
this species is amongst trees, not necessarily woods, for the 
bird may be observed in isolated trees in the fields, in 
small coppices, in orchards, parks, and pleasure-grounds. 
The Chiffchaff also loves the trees to a great extent; 
the Willow Warbler shows more preference for lower 
vegetation. It is this proneness for arboreal celsitude 
that enables the Wood Warbler so often to elude dis- 
covery, although its very characteristic song and call-note 
should furnish a ready means of identification. ‘The 
Wood Warbler is the latest of the trio to reach us in spring, 
not arriving before the end of April, and it departs some 
time in September. Its sojourn here is largely spent 
amongst the foliage, which it persistently searches for 
insects, slipping about amongst the leaves, fluttering below 
them, and hopping from twig to twig, occasionally utter- 
ing a note like dee-ur, oft repeated ; and from time to 
time the male gives forth a string of rapid notes, followed 
by a harsh trill, which constitutes his song. In addition 
to insects and larve, there can be little doubt that the 
Wood Warbler also eats the smaller fruits. ‘The nest of 
this Warbler is made in May or early June, and is always 
placed upon the ground amongst the herbage. It is 
semi-domed, made externally of dry grass, bits of moss, 
and a few dead leaves, lined with horsehair, never with 
feathers, as is the case with its two congeners. ‘The half- 
dozen eggs are white, profusely spotted and freckled with 
rich brown and grey. It rears but one brood in the 
season. ‘The nest is difficult to discover, the female being 
very cautious and secretive, but the male frequently 
betrays its proximity by his persistent song in the trees 
overhead. 
The adult Wood Warbler has the general colour of the 
upper parts yellowish green, brightest on the rump and 
upper tail-coverts ; the very distinct eye-stripe is sulphur- 
yellow; the wings and tail are brown, margined with 
yellowish green. ‘The under parts are white, suffused 
85 
