32 BRITISH BIRDS 



distinct markings of amber-brown and lavender" (Jourdain). 

 Av. size, *69 x '52 in. Laying begins March-April. Broods 1-2. 

 57- Gold-crest [Regulus regulus anglorum Hartert ; Regulus 

 cristatus K. L. Koch]. Generally resident in our conifer woods. 

 The lighter Continental form, Regulus 

 vegulus regulus (Linnseus), is a winter 

 visitor and bird of passage. 



Bird. Length 3^ in. Recognised 

 by the brilliant lemon crest, that of 

 the male having, in addition, a patch 

 of orange-red, and by the olive-green of the 

 upper-parts. The crest is bounded by black. 

 The male has the under-parts dull white, 

 tinged on the throat and flanks with green. 

 The female has the under-parts dull buff. 

 Fig. 35. The young lack the yellow crest. 



Nest. Place : usually suspended beneath 

 the end of the bough of some conifer, also in ivy, furze, 

 creepers. Material : green moss and spider webs, sometimes 

 lichens, lined with feathers, also hair or wooL 



Eggs. Usually 7-10. White or ochreous, with ochreous or 

 reddish-brown markings. Av. size, "53 x '40 in. Laying begins 

 in April. Broods 1-2. 



58. CMffchaff [Phylloscopus collybita collybita (Vieillot); Phyllo- 

 scopus rufus (Bechstein)]. A summer visitor to our wooded dis- 

 tricts. Scarce in Scotland. Also bird of passage. A few winter. 



Bird. Length 4^ in. Distinguished by the blackish legs 

 from the willow-wren, which it resembles. The best means 

 of identification is the song, that of the chiffchaff giving it its 

 name : chiffj chaff, these two notes being repeated as many as 

 ten or more times. The song of the willow-wren, a much 

 commoner species, is a plaintive rippling warble. Upper-parts 

 olive-green. Wing and tail brown, edged olive-green. Under- 

 parts mostly dull white. A pale buff stripe over the eye. 



Nest. Place : usually not far from large trees, some feet 

 from the ground, occasionally on or near it. Built in mixed 

 tangles of brambles, herbage, and the like ; in bushes, creepers. 

 Domed with opening at the side. Material: usually dead 

 leaves, grass, moss, and other material lined with feathers. 



Eggs. Usually 6. White spotted purplish-brown with 

 fainter violet marks. Av. size, '61 x *47 in. Laying begins in 

 May. One brood usually. 



59. Willow-warbler, also inaptly called willow-wren. 

 [Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus (Linnaeus)]. Very common and 

 widely distributed. Summer visitor. Bird of passage. Occa- 

 sionally winters. 



