118 BIRDS AND MAN 



liarly known to the people generally, as they know 

 the robin redbreast, pied wagtail, dunnock, red- 

 start, wheatear, and stonechat. The name we call 

 him by is a very old one ; it was first used in English 

 by Ray, in his translation of Willughby's Orni- 

 thology, about three centuries ago ; but it still 

 remains a book-name unknown to the rustic. Nor 

 has this common little bird any widely known 

 vernacular name. If by chance you find a country- 

 man who knows the bird, and has a name for it, 

 this will be one which is applied indiscriminately 

 to two, three, or four species. The willow wren, 

 in fact, is one of those little birds that are " seen 

 rather than distinguished," on account of its small 

 size, modest colouring, and its close resemblance 

 to other species of warblers ; also on account of 

 the quiet, gentle character of its song, which is 

 little noticed in the spring and summer concert of 

 loud, familiar voices. 



One day in London during the late summer I 

 was amused and at the same time a little disgusted 

 at this general indifference to the delicate beauty 

 in a bird- sound which distinguishes the willow 

 wren even among such delicate singers as the 

 warblers : it struck me as a kind of aesthetic hard- 

 ness of hearing. I heard the song in the flower 



