408 THE HArBLfcD OR WILLOW WHISK". 



is very fond of washing often in a pan of water, which is bene- 

 ficial to their health in summer, but is very hurtful in winter ; 

 at that time they should be only allowed sufficient to drink, or 

 only be let wash about once a week. They are very restless when 

 the time arrives for them to be on their passage, which lasts a 

 considerable time. 



" I once found a nest of these birds, with five young ones ; it 

 was fastened up to the side branches of a poplar tree, that grew 

 at a little distance from the river, in Broomhouse Lane, Fulham." 



158. THE HAYBIRD, OR WILLOW 

 Motacilla dccredula, LIN. Der Fitis Sanger, BECH. 



Description. This bird, which must not be confounded either 

 with the Arbour Bird or the Eufous Warbler, is four inches two 

 lines in length, of which the tail measures nearly two inches. 

 The beak is very pointed ; the upper mandible brown ; the 

 lower mandible and the inside yellow; the shanks are eight 

 lines high, and a yellowish flesh colour. The upper part of 

 the body is a dark olive. A yellowish white stripe passes 

 over the eyes ; and an indistinct dark brown streak between 

 them. The cheeks are yellowish, and there is a reddish grey 

 spot near the ear. The throat and breast are whitish yellow, 

 spotted with darker yellow ; the under wing coverts yellow ; 

 the pen and tail feathers dark brown. 



Observations. This species, which frequents gardens and 

 groves, may be met with in the wooded districts. It is a bird 

 of passage, arriving in the middle of April, and departing at the 

 beginning of October. In August, at which time the young 

 birds are of a pale sulphur colour on the lower part of the 

 body, they may be noticed in great numbers on the willow 

 trees. In a wild state it feeds on small insects and their eggs, 

 and also eats red and black elderberries. If taken when there 

 are flies, even an old bird may be accustomed to the food of the 

 aviary, by mixing a few with it. In general the Haybird will 

 eat both fresh and dry ants' eggs, and soon becomes used either 

 to crushed hemp seed, or the universal paste. It seems to be 

 a less delicate bird than the Fauvette. In the aviary it 

 generally chooses a perch for itself, to which it always returns, 

 rifter having made the circuit of the room. If it catches any 

 flies, it goes back to its perch to eat them. It is a clean and 

 lively bird : and its song, Deedee, deyheu, dahee, tzea, faea ! as 

 well as its call, Hold, hoid I are continually heard. Its nest, 



