OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



think that they will hardly fail, if they try the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Dargle and Enniskerry in the sweet 

 spring-time of the year. 



WOOD WARBLER. 



Phylloscopus sibilatrix ; Becfin siffleur ; Wald Laubvogel. 



Larger Willow Wren ; Yellow Wood Wren ; Green 

 Wren. 



Bill, dark brown ; legs, pale brown ; upper plumage, 

 bright yellowish-green ; chin, throat, and breast, yellow ; 

 streak of bright yellow over the eye ; under-plumage, 

 white. Length, five inches and a quarter. May be 

 distinguished from the Willow Wren by its larger size, 

 brighter colour, and more slender shape. 



Of the " three Willow Wrens " the Wood Warbler is 

 the largest and the rarest. Mr. Thompson, in his Birds 

 of Ireland, says that " it holds a very doubtful place in 

 our fauna." Mr. Watters does not mention it at all. 

 For my own part, I have only observed it in one or two 

 localities, and almost exactly in the same places for 

 successive years. I am well acquainted with the song, 

 having heard it near Beaumaris, and again at Oulton 

 Hall, Norfolk. I was therefore greatly gratified when I 

 heard it at the Dargle, not far from Lord Monck's 

 entrance gate. I visited the glen several times in order 

 to hear and see the bird, and brought some friends with 

 me on two or three occasions for the same purpose. As 

 far as I could judge, there was but one Wood Warbler 

 at the Dargle in each year, probably the same bird, 

 whilst there were two Blackcaps. In 1884 I observed 



