106 BIRDS OF MARLBOROUGH. 



Curruca cinerea. Common Whitethroat. 



Curruca sylviella. Lesser Whitethroat. 

 Rare. Its eggs have been taken, however, in the out- 

 skirts of the Forest, and in some brambles near Martinsell. 



Sylvia sylvicola. Wood Warbler. 

 This species is much rarer than either of the following, 

 which are nearly allied to it in appearance and habits. Its 

 nest has been found in the Forest, and is always placed on 

 the ground. 



Sylvia trochilus. Willow Warbler. 

 Its nest is said by Yarrell to be always placed on the 

 ground ; this does not seem, however, to be generally the 

 case. It is commonly found in a low bush, and in one 

 instance a nest was taken in some laurel-bushes 12 feet 

 from the ground. 



Sylvia hippolais. Chiff-chaff. 



Regulus cristatus. Golden-crested Wren. 

 Common in all fir-plantations. It has been observed of 

 the Common "Wren, that its habit is to build a great 

 number of nests before it fixes upon one to breed in ; and 

 the same will, I believe, be found to be the case with the 

 Gold Crest. Five or six empty nests may be found before 

 one is discovered with eggs, and this in the middle of the 

 breeding-season. In particular it may be mentioned that, 

 in the clump of fir-trees at the Eight Walks, in one year 

 four nests were found, of which only one contained eggs ; 

 nor did there appear to be more than one pair of old birds 

 in the clump. 



Pams major. Great Tit. 

 Parus caeruleus. Blue Tit. 



