THE WILLOW WHEN. 155 



chaffs," as it chases the insects round the branches of 

 the old oak in the copse, or on the yellow catkins of 

 the sallow, itself almost like a coloured catkin too. 

 But this elegant little bird is noticed only by the 

 lovers and frequenters of the country ; it animates 

 the woods by its constant activity ; the frequent 

 repetition of its most cheerful modulation contri- 

 butes essentially to the pleasing harmony of the 

 grove ; and its voice is most sprightly and frequent, 

 when the morning is illumined with one of those 

 mild, walk-enticing gleams, that render this short 

 season the most delightful of our year. It builds 

 its nest, and rears its young with us ; visits our 

 gardens, but is no plunderer there, living almost 

 entirely upon insect food ; and its whole life is 

 passed in harmlessness and innocence. As it is the 

 earliest that arrives, so it is the last, I believe, of 

 our feathered choir that leaves us, except a few 

 lingering, irresolute swallows ; and we hear it 

 piping its final autumnal farewell even in October 

 at times, and sporting with hilarity and joy, when 

 all its congeners are departed. 



It is a difficult matter satisfactorily to compre- 

 hend the object of this bird in quitting another 

 region, and passing into our island. The chief 

 motives for migration seem to be food, a milder 

 climate, and quiet during the period of incubation 

 and rearing their young: but the willow wren, 

 and some others of our insectivorous birds, appear 



