432 



PASSE RES. 



SYLVIID^E. 



PHYLLOSCOPUS TROCHILUS (Linnaeus*). 

 THE WILLOW- WEEN. 



Sylvia trochilus. 



THE WILLOW- WREN visits this country every spring, 

 earlier in the season than the bird last described, but about 

 the same time as the Blackcap. Around London, and in 

 the southern counties, it appears towards the end of March 

 or at the beginning of April, and is generally seen and heard 

 throughout England by the middle of the month last men- 

 tioned. Selby has noticed its arrival in Northumberland as 

 soon as the larch-trees are green. Some few localities ex- 

 cepted, the Willow- Wren is found in greater numbers and, 

 as will presently be shewn in further detail, is more generally 

 dispersed throughout the British Islands than either the 

 Wood- Wren last described or the Chiifchaff of which an 

 account is to follow. Its presence is at once proclaimed by 



* Motadlla trochilus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 338 (1766). 



