150 THE WILLOW WREN. 



general subject of admiration. Of these, koelreu- 

 teria hygrometica (Hedwig) presents a very promi- 

 nent example of unvarying annual exuberance. 

 If this conjecture is correct, that they afford nutri- 

 ment to these poor little creatures in a season of 

 destitution, it affords us another instance of the 

 benevolence of their Creator, extending, as far as 

 we can perceive, through every department of cre- 

 ation: we cannot trace this chain, because we are 

 ignorant of consequences, nor perceive the termina- 

 tion, because it is of infinite duration ; but to attest 

 any perception of wisdom and of goodness is a 

 laudable and just homage of the creature who 

 observes it. 



I always hear with delight the earliest chirpings 

 of that pretty harbinger of spring, the willow wren 

 (motacilla trochilus), trilling its wild and gleeful 

 " chiff 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 ani- 

 mates the woods by its constant activity ; the fre- 

 quent repetition of its most cheerful modulation con- 

 tributes 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 



