WARBLERS. 127 



The willow -haunting "Wren, and hear 

 His plaintive wood-notes, warbled clear 

 As on the breath of morning floats 

 The music of his hymn-like notes." 



.The nest of the Willow Warbler is, as we have stated, similar in 

 construction and materials- to that of the species last described, except 

 that it is lined with feathers; it is very large for the size of the bird, 

 and is usually built on the ground, among tall grass, weeds, or brush- 

 wood; one has been met with, however, in the ivy on a wall. The 

 eggs, from four to seven in number, are generally of a light pinkish 

 white, thickly spotted with pale rusty red, but they vary greatly in colour, 

 some have been found very sparingly spotted, and others pure white. 

 The female sits very close and exhibits a wonderful attachment to her 

 nest, not even deserting it after it has been much disturbed or meddled 

 with; a curious instance is thus recorded in the "Field Naturalist" by 

 a lady. "In the spring of 1832, walking through an orchard, I was 

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

 composed of dried grass. I took it up in my hands, and upon exam- 

 ination 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 surprised 

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

 work. The feathers inside were increased, as I could perceive 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, 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 sat, and ultimately brought out 

 seven young ones; but I cannot help supposing it a singular instance 

 of attachment and confidence, after being twice so rudely disturbed/' 



