CONFIDENCE AND ATTACHMENT. 51 



Wren, and the Short-winged Wood Wren, or Chiff-chaff, 

 with both of which this species is sometimes confounded. It 

 may, however, be distinguished from the former by the 

 darker olive-green tint of the plumage of the upper part of 

 the body ; by the light- coloured streak over the eye being 

 smaller, and not so well defined ; by all the under surface 

 of the body, and under tail-coverts, being tinged with yellow ; 

 and by the shortness, as well as by the structure of the 

 wing, the second feather of which is equal in length to the 

 sixth. From the Chiff-chaff it is best distinguished by its 

 pale brown legs, those of that bird being nearly black. So 

 says Yarrell, who relates a remarkable instance of this bird's 

 attachment to its nest, as recorded by a lady in i The Field 

 Naturalist :' 



In the spring of 1832, walking through an orchard, I was at- 

 tracted by something on the ground in the form of a large ball, and 

 composed of dried grass. I took it up, and, upon examination, 

 found it was a domed nest of the Willow Wren. Concerned at my 

 precipitation, I put it down again as near the same place as I could 

 suppose, but with very little hope that the architect would ever 

 claim it again after such an attack. I was, however, agreeably sur- 

 prised to find, next day, that the little occupier was still proceeding 

 with his work. The feathers inside were increased, as I could per- 

 ceive by the alteration in colour. In a few days two eggs were 

 laid, and I thought my little protege safe from harm, when a flock 

 of ducks that had strayed from the poultry yard, with their usual 

 curiosity, went straight to the nest, which was very conspicuous, as 

 the grass had not grown high enough to conceal it, and, with their 

 bills, spread it quite open, displaced the eggs, and made the nest a 

 complete ruin. I now despaired ; but immediately, on driving the 

 authors of the mischief away, I tried to restore the nest to something 

 like its proper form, and placed the eggs inside. The same day I 

 was astonished to find an addition of another egg, and in about a 

 week four more. The bird sate, and ultimately brought out seven 

 young ones ; but I cannot help supposing it a singular instance of at- 

 tachment and confidence, after being twice so rudely disturbed. 



The length of this bird is about five inches ; the upper 

 parts of the body are a light greenish brown, the feathers 

 being edged with yellowish green ; the cheeks and sides of 

 the neck are a pale greyish brown, tinged with yellow ; the 

 foreneck and sides greyish white, streaked with yellow, the 

 breast and abdomen white. Of the three British species of 



