104 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



spring, or while the chiffchaff with lively cry 

 threads the mazes of the twigs. But more pas- 

 sionate than either of these, though certainly less 

 musical, is that other warbler, the woodwren, who 

 is also clad in soft shades of the same colours 

 fitting livery for a minstrel of the tree-tops. He 

 is as agile as any of the warblers those harbingers 

 of summer, lithe hunters of noxious insects, and 

 guardians of leaf and blossom. 



The woodwren is found farther in the depth of 

 the wood than either willow-wren or chiffchaff. 

 How often do people hear its short, full " kew, 

 kew, kew " sounding like a warning whistle, with- 

 out knowing that the sound proceeds from this 

 fascinating little bird ? How often do they notice 

 its curious, sibilous song which reminds one of 

 the frictional noises made by wind-rocked branches 

 rubbing against each other yet never observe the 

 passionate gesture which accompanies the strain ? 

 Often may the bird be seen in the woods darting 

 amongst the branches, springing lightly from twig 

 to twig, or resting for a moment to sing, the move- 

 ments always graceful, the song always pleasant. 

 But it is when we are able to witness at the dis- 



