92 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



generally third in the list, the Wheatear being first, and 

 the Chiff-chaff second. I have, however, on at least one 

 occasion, noticed the arrival of the Willow Warbler in 

 March ; in that year it preceded the Chiff-chaff; but it 

 usually arrives about ten days or a fortnight after that 

 pre-eminently " early bird." 



The Willow Warbler spends our winter season in 

 Africa ; it is common in the valley of the Nile, and, 

 according to Mr. Seebohm, is found as far south as the 

 Cape and the Transvaal. It is also found in Persia, 

 India, and North America, but has not yet been 

 observed in the Hebrides, although it has been seen 

 occasionally in Orkney, and once at least in Shetland. 

 In Ireland it is hard to say where it is not found, and 

 from April to July its song is perhaps the most frequent 

 we hear. 



The call-note of the Willow Warbler closely resembles 

 that of the Chiff-chaff, but is shorter, "whit" or "whid" 

 instead of "hoo-id ;" indeed, this call, with modifications, 

 seems common to the three Willow Wrens, as they have 

 been so often called. The song is of a very sweet and 

 plaintive description ; it begins with syllables sounding 

 something like " weechy, weechy," and consisting of 

 about eight syllables altogether, and sometimes more ; 

 the ending varies. I have found tehat at Elm Park 

 the Willow Warbler usually sang seven times in one 

 minute. Mr. Burroughs gives an American's impres- 

 sion of its song. He writes : " The most melodious 

 strain I heard, and the only one that exhibited to the 

 full the best qualities of the American songsters, pro- 

 ceeded from a bird quite unknown to fame in the 

 British Islands at least ; I refer to the Willow Warbler." 



