WOOD-WREN— WILLOW-WREN. 75 



dead leaves, and under the shelter of a tuft of herbage or a 

 small bush. Its nest is constructed of dry grass and moss^ 

 with dead leaves, and lined with hair, feathers being never 

 used, and is generally artfully concealed, but easily dis- 

 covered when the female is sitting, by watching the male, 

 who is serenading her from a neighbouring tree, and after a 

 time descends in a somewhat parachute-like style, and either 

 feeds his spouse or takes her place upon the nest. This 

 being oval, domed, with an opening at the side, has in some 

 districts given this species the title of " Oven Bird.^^ It 

 has been shot as early as the 1st of May, and departs in 

 September. 



WILLOW-WREN. 



Phylloscopiis trochilus. 



This is a regular spring visitant, arriving in little parties 

 sometimes as early as the second Aveek in April, and now 

 and then continuing to do so till as late as the second week 

 in May. Immediately on its reaching the coast it proceeds 

 to the hedges and gardens, and is soon very abundant all 

 through the county, and its short, low, and somewhat mo- 

 notonous little song may be heard in every direction. It 

 feeds entirely on insects, especially on aphides, and is very 

 useful and diligent in its search of them among our roses 

 and other cultivated plants. It does not frequent the large 

 timber woods, but prefers those in which the underwood is 

 thick and close. It places its nest on the ground, or on the 

 weedy and overgrown edge of a ditch, in some tuft of grass, 

 sheltered, in most cases, by a thick bramble or the coarse 

 herbage itself, constructing it of dry grass and moss, or 



