OF SKLBORNE. 



85 



neck sometimes excepted) begins his two notes in the 

 middle of March, and continues them through the spring 



The summer before last having observed a nest of this species at the 

 foot of the stem of an American Azalea in the garden, when they were just 

 on the point of flying I took a male bird which was sitting half out of the 





W . Herbert, del. 



nest, and brought it into the house. Being frequently handled it became 

 immediately so tame that, when it came to feed itself, on the door of its 

 cage being opened it would fly to me and perch on my hand or head, or 

 on the edge of my plate at breakfast, and suffered its head to be kissed 

 or its back stroked without the least apprehension ; and after taking its 

 exercise and amusing itself for a time it would return into its cage to 

 feed, and afterwards sit quietly on its perch. When this had become a 

 confirmed habit, its cage door was left open night and day, and it was the 

 most amiable little creature I ever saw. During my absence from home 

 it was scared out of window and lost. 



QUILL-FEATHERS OF THE WILLOW WREN. 



I may take this opportunity of saying that I can aver that the Sylv.flavi- 

 vcntris of Vieillot is the young male of this species in its autumnal dress. 



