WARINESS OF WILLOW-WRENS . 27 



The nest is approached sometimes by a short 

 passage or tunnel in the grass ; the one in the 

 picture, showing the bird sitting, had one such over 

 a foot in length, and was thus very difficult to find. 

 I had noticed the birds round the spot during 

 several days, and searched for the nest on three 

 successive evenings without success. One after- 

 noon, however, I remained hidden near the spot 

 where I knew the nest must be, and watched the 

 birds with a field-glass. For a long time the hen 

 kept on hopping about in the hedge ; then, at last, 

 she came down into the grass and did not rise again. 

 I quietly approached, and tried to rouse her, but 

 when once she was settled, no noise or persuasion 

 seemed likely to effect this ; but when I beat the 

 grass with a stick, she rose a full yard from where 

 she first entered, disclosing the situation of the nest, 

 which even then was very difficult to find owing to 

 the thickness of the grass. There were four eggs, 

 and she sat on these for several days without 

 adding to them. 



A few days afterwards I went to the nest with 

 my camera, and as it was raining heavily I did not 

 expect a very long delay in obtaining a picture ; 

 but in this I was mistaken, for it was not until 

 about five o'clock that I was able to expose a 

 plate. The bird flew to a dead branch near, and 



