110 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



GOLDEN CRESTED WREN-B. This beautiful and 



Regulus cristatits. tiniest of British Birds is common 



where conifers grow. The nest is 



slung like a hammock beneath the bough of a Yew, or 



similar tree. With the exception of the rare Golden 



Oriole, this is the only British bird that builds a hanging 



nest. 



Fire Crested Wren. There is little doubt that this 



R. ignicapillus. bird is often confounded with the Gold 



Crest which it closely resembles. It 



may be distinguished, however, by the black line through 



the eye, and yellowish lines above and below it. It has 



occurred five or six times in Shropshire, no less than 



three in Shrewsbury. One of these flew into a shop 



on the Wyle Cop in December, 1882, and was caught. 



Another shot by a boy with a catapult is in the collection 



of the late Mr. Beckwith. 



Chiffcha'ff B. A common and very early Summer visitor. 



Phylloscopus mfus. It makes a beautiful domed nest on or 



Mar. ii. Oct. i. close to the ground, amongst rank 



herbage, and generally ornaments the 



entrance with dead leaves. The cock perches on the 



topmost branch of a tall tree to utter its little song, 



which consists of a reiteration of the syllables forming 



its name. 



Willow Wren B. Provincial names, Peggy Whitethroat, 



P. trochilus. and Hay-bird ; the last in allusion to 



Apl. i. Sept. in. the nest, loosely constructed of dried 



grass; it is domed at the top, and 



usually placed on the ground amongst coarse herbage. 



The Willow Wren is numerous everywhere. The name 



