BIRDS OF THE WOODS 47 



Length 4f in. Female similar. Young, greener, and 

 eye-streak ill-defined. 



Language. — Song, a monotonous " chiff-chiff," or 

 " chiff-cheff." Alarm-note, " tewy." 



Habits. — Flight undulating. It sings from the top 

 of some tall tree, when its sombre plumage and small 

 size can make it difficult to observe. When not singing 

 it actively and restlessly pursues its insect prey among 

 the leaves. Rarely seen on the ground. 



Food. — Small insects and their larvae and soft fruits. 



Nest. — May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. — On or near the ground in hedgebank,or in patch 

 of rankly growing grass, in lower part of small bush, &c. 



Materials. — Dry grass, dead leaves, rootlets and moss, 

 lined with fine rootlets, a little hair, and many soft 

 feathers. Nest cave-shaped. 



Eggs. — Five to seven. White, more or less spotted and 

 speckled with brown and purplish brown. 



WILLOW WARBLER or WILLOW WREN 



(Phylloscopus trochilus). 



April to September. Found generally throughout 

 Great Britain, but in some parts of Cornwall, Wales and 

 Ireland it is rarer. 



Haunts. — Woodland districts, but less a bird of the 

 woods than the last. It has no especial predilection 

 for willow trees, as the name might imply. 



Observation. — Rather larger and altogether yellower 

 than the Chiffchaff. 



Plumage. — Sides of head, superciliary streak over 

 eyes and throat bright yellow ; upper parts yellowish 



