OF 8ELBORNE. 57 



notes, and that constantly, than those two that I am 

 acquainted with; for the one has a joyous, easy laughing 

 note ; the other a harsh loud chirp. The former is every way 

 larger, and three-quarters of an inch longer, and weighs two 

 drams and a half ; while the latter weighs but two ; so the 

 songster is one-fifth heavier than the chirper. The chirper 

 (being the first summer-bird of passage that is heard, the 



comparatively the longest wings, the latter when closed covering three- 

 fourths of the tail, and the longest legs. In the wing the second 

 primary is nearly equal in length to the fourth as shown in the cut 

 opposite, while the third and fourth have their outer webs sloped off 

 towards the extremity (this peculiarity seems to have been inadvertently 

 overlooked by the artist). In colour it is much greener above, and 

 of a purer white beneath than either of its congeners. The legs are 

 flesh-coloured. The Willow wren (Ph. trochilus) measures in length 

 as nearly as possible 5 inches, wing 2'6 and tarsus 07. The wing is thus 

 comparatively shorter, the second primary being equal to the sixth, 

 and the third, fourth and fifth with their outer webs sloped off towards 

 the extremity. 



QUILL-FEATHERS OF THE WILLOW WREN. 



In colour it is the yellowest of the three species, and this is parti- 

 cularly observable in young birds in the plumage of their first autumn. 

 The legs are flesh-coloured. 



The Chiff-chaff (Ph. rufd) is the smallest of the three, measuring in 

 length about 4'7 inches, wing 2'4, and tarsus 0'6. The wing is re- 



QTJILL-FEATHERS OF THE CHIFF-CHAFF. 



markably short, the second primary being about equal to or no longer 

 than the seventh, and the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth have their outer 

 webs sloped off towards the extremity. 



In regard to colour, greenish brown is the prevailing tint above, 

 white tinged with yellow beneath. The legs are hair brown. ED. 



