The 



lit c\ ^ ^ttle yeN w bird still continues to make a 



sibilous shivering noise in the tops of tall woods. 



This last haunts only the tops of trees in high 

 beechen woods, and makes a sibilous grasshopper- 

 like noise now and then, at short intervals, shivering a little with 

 its wings when it sings. G. W. 



The Trilling Wood-Wren 



GILBERT WHITE was the first naturalist to distinguish 

 this " little yellow bird," though he did not know its 

 name. Few ever recognise the bird, or its " shivering 

 noise," even nowadays, and it is a rare discovery to 

 happen upon its nest ; we doubt if Gilbert White ever 

 saw the nest and eggs. 



The wood-wren comes later than the chiff-chaff and 

 willow-wren, staying until September. It often sings 

 on the wing, and its short song-flights from tree to 

 tree are most fascinating to watch. The tremulous 

 notes are well rendered as " tzit, tzit, tzit, tzit, tzitr," 

 turning into " tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tre." The first passage 

 may begin just before the singer launches himself 

 from a twig, and then, as he flutters on trembling 

 wings, the change comes, and as the fairy-like form is 

 about to alight, the tremulous notes quicken and grow 

 louder, until the short voyage brings him to his 

 anchorage. There is also a mournful call, sounding 

 like " twee-it." 



The nest is much like a chiff-chaff's or a willow- 

 wren's, but is known instantly from either by the 

 absence of feathers. 



