124 



THE BIRDS OF THE WOODS 



Tree-Warbler. 



and deep and generally has galium in it together with grass and moss ; it is placed, 

 as a rule, under a gorse-bush or in a clump of grass or clover. 



Another species, the tree-warbler (Hypoluis philomela), ranges 

 throughout central Europe to Denmark and central Sweden, but 

 is not found farther east than Asia Minor. It occurs in England only as an 



accidental visitor, and is unknown in Spain, 

 where it is represented by an allied species. 

 It winters in Africa as far south as Damara- 

 land. Its favourite haunts are small 

 stretches of woodland, 

 and it is often found 

 near human habitations, 

 especially if these are 



surrounded 

 and bushes, 

 them 

 but 

 tions 



near 

 high ; 



are 



by hedges 

 and the trees 

 are not too 

 such condi- 

 not always 

 essential, for a nest was 

 built on an acacia tree 

 in a noisy street in 

 Berlin. The nest is 

 generally situated at a 

 man's height above the 

 ground, and is well hidden and beautifully 

 made. Should an enemy approach the nest, 

 the birds fly round with plaintive shrieks, 

 though on other occasions they are singu- 

 larly timid. These warblers fight so 

 furiously that both combatants drop down 

 together. They seldom fly close to the 

 ground, but move from bush to bush, or 

 among the foliage of trees ; they hop 

 awkwardly, and when startled have a habit 

 of bristling up their head-feathers. Their 

 food consists of insects and snails, and in the 

 late summer and autumn of berries and other fruits. The song, which has been 

 much praised, and indeed over-praised, is loud and long, with some notes that are 

 flute-like, and others of quite a different type, interspersed every now and then 

 with a burst of mocking laughter. This will go on for hours ; and even if the 

 songster be pelted with stones, he will still persist. 



With the wood-wren (Phylloscopus sibilator) we come to a true 

 bird of the woodlands, and one almost always found nesting among 

 beech-trees in England and many other countries. This familiar bird arrives from 

 the south towards the end of April or beginning of May, and leaves again in August 

 or the early part of September ; its range extending from the mountains of Italy to 



WILLOW-WREN. 



Wood-Wren. 



