THE WILLOW- WAEBLER. 137 



in a bank of furze adjoining my garden, do not, in con- 

 junction with Blackcaps and Whitethroats, pay daily visits 

 to a certain row of red raspberries in my garden. It may 

 be that they come only in quest of aphides, but I have 

 certainly seen them in dangerous proximity to clusters of 

 the ripest fruit, which, when they were scared away, bore 

 evident marks of having been pecked by birds. The nest 

 of the Hay-bird resembles that of the "Wood-warbler, but 

 it is lined with feathers. The eggs are usually from five to 

 seven, and of the same size and shape, but the spots are 

 rust-coloured and limited in number. 



THE MELODIOUS WILLOW-WARBLER 



SYLVIA HIPPOLAl'S OF CONTINENTAL AUTHORS. 



Upper parts ash-grey, tinged with green ; lore and orbit yellow ; larger wing- 

 coverts dark brown, edged with dull white ; primaries and tail-feathers brown, 

 edged with greenish grey ; under parts pale yellow ; lower mandible white. 

 Length nearly five inches and a half. Eggs pale pink, irregularly spotted with 

 deep scarlet or crimson. 



A WARBLER closely allied to the three last species is com- 

 mon in the gardens and hedgerows of the Continent, and 

 being larger and stronger than these, might be expected to 

 visit England. It was not, however, until the year 1848 

 that it was observed in this country, when a specimen in 

 its most perfect plumage was shot in Kent by a person who 

 was attracted by its loud and melodious song, which is said 

 to be far superior to that of either of the three other 

 species, and to be equalled only by those of the Blackcap 

 and Nightingale. The nest is generally placed pretty high 

 up in the hedges and thickets, and in form most resembles 

 that of the Chaffinch, but is somewhat smaller. The 

 framework is thick, made of dry grass and the fine white 

 shavings of the bark of the birch-tree, mixed with white 

 lichens and cobweb. The eggs are of the size of those 

 of the Linnet ; four or five in number. Its popular name 

 in France is Grand Pouillet. 



