BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 479 



Willow Wren ; but is distinguished from them by 

 having no feathers as an inner lining. 



Eggs. Five or six. I have generally found the 

 former number although some authorities say the 

 latter forms a usual clutch ; white in ground- 

 colour, thickly spotted and speckled all over with 

 dark purplish-brown and ash-grey, most thickly at 

 the larger end. Size about .65 by .56 in. (See 

 Plate IV.) 



7Yw. May and June. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in April and de- 

 parting in October. Notes : song, twee, twee, chea, 

 chea ; call note, dee-ur. Local and other names : 

 Wood Wren, Yellow Wren. Sits closely. 



WATERHEN. See MOORHEN. 



WHEATEAR. 



(Saxicola cenanthe.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family TURDID.E (THRUSHES). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about six 

 inches. Bill fairly long, 

 strong, and black, with a 

 few bristles at the base. 

 Irides hazel. Crown, nape, 

 and back bluish-grey , tinged 

 with light -brown; rump 

 and upper tail - coverts 

 white. Wings nearly black, 

 MALE WHEATEAR. some o f the feathers edged 



and tipped with buff. c^T ail-quills, upper two-thirds 

 white, the remaining third black and broad. From 



