1789 THE WILLOW-WEEN 199 



The hawks and owls are difficult to get : of the former 

 I want all except the sparrow, kestrel, and common buzzard; 

 of the latter all the eared and the little owl. The great 

 butcher-bird, and woodchat, goatsuckers, crossbill, aber- 

 devine, or siskin, and spotted gallinule, with many cloven, 

 and web-footed water birds, together with any of their eggs. 

 And as you mention snipes and teals having bred near you, 

 their eggs would be highly acceptable, with others not 

 common which you may be able to obtain. And in return, 

 sir, if there is any thing in my former, or future researches 

 that can afford you any satisfaction, I shall with the greatest 

 pleasure communicate. 



That amiable and excellent naturalist Mr. Pennant has 

 done me the honor to say I have discovered some things to 

 him he was not before acquainted with ; and I flatter myself 

 I have other notes in store when I have more time to write 

 to him more largely upon the subject; this you know is 

 the busy season for a naturalist, and the days are not half 

 long enough for me. 



A fine morning called me from this and in my walk my 

 ears discovered a note I had never before heard. I pursued 

 it into the thick of a wood, and after much difficulty killed 

 the bird as it was delivering its song (if it may be so called) 

 from the branch of an oak tree : it proved to be a willow 

 wren ; its note was certainly very different from any I ever 

 heard before, somewhat resembling a note of the blue tit- 

 mouse, it was continued without variety, like the grasshopper 

 lark but not quite so quick or shrill, nor of so long duration ; 

 between each song the pause was considerable : the note I 

 confess has staggered me, but its appearance, size, &c. 

 discover nothing new. The common willow wren, I well 

 know, has two very distinct songs: the first after their 

 arrival, before they are paired, I considered as their love- 

 call, the other their soft courting or amourous song : as to 

 shades of colour, or size, this species vary considerably: 



