THE WOOD WARBLER 



this species is amongst trees, not necessarily woods, for the 

 bird may be observed in isolated trees in the fields, in 

 small coppices, in orchards, parks, and pleasure-grounds. 

 The Chiffchaff also loves the trees to a great extent ; 

 the Willow Warbler shows more preference for lower 

 vegetation. It is this proneness for arboreal celsitude 

 that enables the Wood Warbler so often to elude dis- 

 covery, although its very characteristic song and call-note 

 should furnish a ready means of identification. The 

 Wood Warbler is the latest of the trio to reach us in spring, 

 not arriving before the end of April, and it departs some 

 time in September. Its sojourn here is largely spent 

 amongst the foliage, which it persistently searches for 

 insects, slipping about amongst the leaves, fluttering below 

 them, and hopping from twig to twig, occasionally utter- 

 ing a note like dee-ur, oft repeated ; and from time to 

 time the male gives forth a string of rapid notes, followed 

 by a harsh trill, which constitutes his song. In addition 

 to insects and larvae, there can be little doubt that the 

 Wood Warbler also eats the smaller fruits. The nest of 

 this Warbler is made in May or early June, and is always 

 placed upon the ground amongst the herbage. It is 

 semi-domed, made externally of dry grass, bits of moss, 

 and a few dead leaves, lined with horsehair, never with 

 feathers, as is the case with its two congeners. The half- 

 dozen eggs are white, profusely spotted and freckled with 

 rich brown and grey. It rears but one brood in the 

 season. The nest is difficult to discover, the female being 

 very cautious and secretive, but the male frequently 

 betrays its proximity by his persistent song in the trees 

 overhead. 



The adult Wood Warbler has the general colour of the 

 upper parts yellowish green, brightest on the rump and 

 upper tail-coverts ; the very distinct eye-stripe is sulphur- 

 yellow ; the wings and tail are brown, margined with 

 yellowish green. The under- parts are white, suffused 



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