WILLOW-WREN'S SONG 25 



state of excitement the bird is in at the time. 

 When the male is singing over the nest in which 

 the hen is sitting, and provided it is a bright day, 

 the song is perfect throughout ; the bird seems to 

 begin on a higher note than before, as if in his joy 

 he cannot quite control his feelings ; but on a wet 

 day, when apparently even a bird's spirits are 

 damped, the song consists of only a few notes. I 

 have tried to put this sweet song into words, and 

 believe that the following, if whistled, starting on a 

 high note and gradually descending, will give some 

 idea of the original : tu-i, tu-i, tu-i, tu y tu t tu, tui-i, 

 tui-i, tu-o, tu-o, tuo-o,-uo-uo-uo. 



When Willow- Wrens first arrive in this country, 

 numbers keep together, and a very merry party 

 they are ; but, nevertheless, the males chase each 

 other and fight valiantly for their mates. In the 

 course of two or three days, however, pairing 

 difficulties are overcome, and each couple betake 

 themselves to their nesting site well satisfied ; and 

 as soon as the thick undergrowth appears on the 

 hedge-bank, or under the bushes, nidification is 

 commenced. The nest being very skilfully con- 

 cealed, is formed of dried grasses domed over with 

 an entrance at the side, while the interior is said 

 always to be lined with feathers, which does not 

 seem to be strictly accurate. Thus, last spring 1 



