BRITISH BIRDS. 165 



THE WILLOW WREN. 



(Sylvia Trochilus, Lath. Bcc-fin ponillot, Temm.) 



THIS is next in size. The plumage of the upper 

 parts is darker than that of the last, and of an 

 olive green ; the wings are brown, with dull yellow 

 edges ; under parts whitish, pretty deeply tinged 

 with yellow on the throat, breast, and thighs: the 

 bill is brown, inside yellow; over each eye a light 

 yellow line extends from the bill to the back part 

 of the head: the legs are yellow brown. These 

 birds vary in the shadings of their plumage. 



The Willow Wren frequents hedges and shrub- 

 beries ; its food consists of insects, in search of 

 which it is continually running up and down 

 small branches of trees. Its nest is placed on 

 the ground, commonly on the side or edge of a 

 brae; it is composed of a great quantity of moss 

 and dried grass, lined with long coarse hair and 

 feathers; it lays six white eggs, beautifully spotted 

 with red. 



