48 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



olive-green. Breast and flanks yellowish olive ; wings 

 olive-brown, tipped with yellowish ; under wing-coverts 

 bright yellow ; under parts yellowish white, more yellow 

 on thighs and rump. Bill and legs brown. Length 5 in. 

 Female similar. Young, generally yellower. 



Language. — Song, a little reminiscent of the Chaffinch's 

 ditty, in that it mounts up and then hurries down the 

 scale in a staccato, irregular manner, and ends in a 

 subdued kind of whisper. Alarm-note like the Chiff- 

 chaff's " tewy." 



Habits. — When seeking food amongst the leaves of 

 some moderately tall tree, it reminds one of the Tits 

 with its odd acrobatic actions. Flight undulating. 

 It sings persistently from April to July. It rarely 

 alights on the ground, but when it does it hops much 

 like a Robin. 



Food. — Insects chiefly ; soft fruits in summer. 



Nest. — May onwards. Often two broods. 



Site. — On or very near the ground among thick 

 grass, &c., or under bush or hedge. 



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

 with wool, rootlets, hair, and feathers. Nest cave-shaped. 



Eggs. — Five to eight. White, spotted and speckled 

 with reddish sienna-brown, much like some of the Tits' 

 eggs. 



WOOD WARBLER or WOOD WREN 



(Phylloscopus sibilatrix). 



April to September. Generally distributed ; local 

 in Scotland, rare in Ireland. 



Haunts. — As last, but essentially a bird of the woods. 



Observation. — Distinguished from its congeners by its 

 larger size, brighter appearance, rather longer wings and 

 white under-parts. 



