BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 163 



even November, however, they linger at the nesting 

 haunts as if they would prefer to remain always 

 on the uplands, if there were a sufficient supply 

 of food. 



THE WILLOW WARBLER 



THIS beautiful little songster is almost everywhere 

 to be found throughout the Highlands. In the 

 dark pine forests, amongst the slender birches, and 

 on the open moorlands, his pathetically sweet 

 song is heard as he flits from branch to branch 

 in quest of food ; and when the cold winds of- early 

 autumn have driven him south, the wood- 

 lands and moors seem indeed deserted. 



The first of the Willow Wrens arrives, should 

 the spring be favourable, about the first week in 

 April, but in some seasons I have not heard their 

 song until the first of May. Some years ago 

 we experienced a heavy fall of snow about 

 May 7th, after a fine, mild April, and the Willow 

 Warbler's notes seemed strangely out of place as 

 he flitted about amongst the snow-covered birches. 



The birds usually arrive in considerable num- 

 bers that is to say, their song is heard in widely 

 separate districts about the same time. When they 

 first reach us their song is very soft and low ; but 

 after two or three days' rest they regain their true 

 form, and on all sides their sweet undulating song 

 is borne on the wind. 



For a month or so after arriving they seem to 

 take little thought of domestic duties, and it is 

 not until well on in May that the earliest nesting 

 birds begin to make their nests. Both cock and 



