2/4 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



those of the Yellow Wood Wren (Phyllopneuste Tro- 

 chilus) a little later ; but their curiously-arched nests, 

 which are cunningly concealed, are seldom found 

 before May. That of the Yellow Wood Wren, lined 

 with hair, usually on the ground in the beech woods ; 

 those of the other two, lined with feathers, in low 

 bushes and brambles in the valley. 



The hardy little Golden-crested Wren (Regulus au- 

 ricapillus} is tolerably common in winter and summer, 

 but its note is so feeble that it may often be heard 

 unnoticed in a country ramble by any but those who 

 are well acquainted with it. Although this is our 

 smallest bird, its nest, which is usually suspended fron\ 

 a branch in the Spruce fir or the yew, is much more 

 bulky than that of many larger birds. The talented 

 author of " Ornithological Rambles in Sussex," a work 

 which is deservedly admired by all who have had the 

 pleasure of reading it, is of opinion that, from the 

 great similarity of the Fire-crowned Kinglet (Regulus 

 ignicapillus) to the better known species, the probability 

 is that it has been overlooked in localities frequented 

 by the latter, and that it may be found here. We 

 have never, to our knowledge, seen the bird ; but a 

 nest taken at Petersfield this season contained an egg 

 so unlike that of the Golden-crest, that we venture to 

 ascribe it to the Fite-crown. This nest, composed of 

 moss, wool, and hair, and lined with feathers, was 

 placed on a branch of a yew tree, and not suspended. 

 The only egg saved out of several which were found 

 with it is white, with small, dark grey and light grey 

 spots sparsely distributed over the larger end, while 

 those of the Golden-crest are more or less brownish- 

 white, darker at the larger end, and without spots. 



The Grasshopper Warbler (Sibillatrix Locustella}, 

 though generally dispersed, is a very unobtrusive bird ; 

 and more frequently heard than seen. Its note much 

 more nearly resembles the chirp of a cricket than the 

 song of a bird, but it is more continuous, and varies in 



