THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 43 



warbler, the brighter green of the upper plumage, 

 the yellowish breast, and the purely white abdominal 

 parts. In the haunts of the birds these differences 

 may not appear to be well marked, but when closely 

 examined they are at once obvious, and so make 

 it impossible to confound the two species. The 

 chiff-chaff is easily distinguishable from the other 

 two by its brisk call of " chiff-chaff chiff-chaff." 



II 



MORE SUMMER MIGRANTS 



ANOTHER of our summer visitors is the wryneck. 

 The time of its coming can hardly be defined, as the 

 first arrive about the beginning of April, while others 

 extend on into June. Many of the birds come with 

 the cuckoo, and one of its country names is that of 

 cuckoo's mate. Like the cuckoo it is oftener heard 

 than seen, and its solitary cry (by Yarrell not in- 

 appropriately likened to that of the kestrel) may be 

 heard daily, while the little author is most difficult 

 to get a view of. It lays its eggs in retired places in 

 holes in trees, often only on touchwood; these are 

 six or seven in number, purely white and glossy. 

 If you happen to come across the nest of the wry- 

 neck, the bird will suffer itself to be taken before it 

 will desert its eggs. Then it is that it hisses, ruffles 



