THE WILLOW WREN 188 



the name of Oven-bird; indeed all three are known by 

 that name, and the Willow Wren also by that of Hay- 

 bird, because of the dry materials it uses for its nest. 

 This species is very useful to the gardener, as its food 

 consists almost entirely of insects, flies and aphides. 



The Willow Wren is a little longer than the Chiff-chaff 

 and an inch longer than the Wren. The upper parts, 

 except the crown, is greenish-brown, passing into a 

 yellow tinge ; the underparts white, breast and throat 

 pale yellow ; the cheeks golden-brown, the inside of the 

 wings yellowy legs brownish ; the under side of the toes 

 yellow. All is subdued, nothing glaring on this 

 delicately coloured bird ; indeed, all is delicate, including 

 the bill, which is pointed and adapted for investigating 

 the tiniest cracks and bud axels. 



