Chiffchaff — Sedge and Reed Warblers — Wren. 319 



bushes, or furze on commons and hills, building its nest upon the ground. It is a pretty 

 and lively bird, quite amusing in its actions, flying or hopping from branch to branch, 

 capturing any small insect that comes in its way. It has a very soft and pleasing song, not 

 unlike the Robin's, though not so powerful ; neither does it possess much variety, yet having 

 the advantage in its favour of being commenced in the early morning and continuing with 

 slight intermissions until the fall of evening. 



Like the preceding bird, it is capable of being easily tamed, and will then feed from the 

 hand, or if allowed to range the room will pursue and capture the flies, or peck them off 

 the walls and ceiling. It should be kept warm, and have artificial heat during winter ; at 

 night-time they invariably huddle close together for the sake of warmth. It should be fed 

 and treated the same as the Wood Warbler. 



The Chiffchaff, though one of our most diminutive songsters, is one of the first of 

 the summer warblers to arrive in this country, being only preceded by the Wheatear. It 

 may be seen early in the spring flitting about in shady woods, bushes, and hedgerows, uttering 

 its fussy "chiff-chaff, chivvy-chavvy." It may be distinguished from the Willow Warbler by 

 its size, being slightly smaller, and by having dark brown legs, and its nest is invariably built 

 off the ground ; it has been called by many the " Lesser Pettychaps." 



Like the Willow and Wood Warblers, this bird is very sociable, and may be easily tamed 

 so as to readily take tempting food from the hand, or will catch the flies if allowed the 

 freedom of the room. It should be fed and treated similarly to those birds. 



The Sedge Warbler has its head and neck olive-brown, each feather being tipped with 

 brown so as to form stripes ; the back olive-brown ; from the base of the beak to the ear a 

 band of brown, and over this, running from the beak over the eye, a narrow streak of white ; 

 the whole of the under part a delicate yellowish-white, deepening in colour on the sides and 

 breast ; the wings brown, each feather being edged with lighter brown, and the tail also 

 brown. 



Being very difficult to "meat off" if full-grown when caught, it is preferable to rear this 

 bird from the nest, when it should be fed upon the same food as young Nightingale's, but 

 otherwise the Wood Warbler's food will amply suffice. It should be given plenty of water for 

 bathing, but must not be allowed to indulge too much in this- luxury during winter, as it 

 considerably weakens the bird. Though rather difficult to keep, the Sedge Warbler has 

 a comparatively strong song, and is a lively and attractive bird. 



The Reed Warbler is very similar in plumage to the Nightingale, but smaller in size, 

 and having a white streak over the eye, whilst the breast is lighter, and the back and tail not 

 so rich a brown. The nest, composed of grasses and wool, is built suspended between three 

 or four reeds over a ditch or stream. The Wood Warbler's food is best for this bird. 



The Common Wren, familiarly called Jenny or Kitty Wren, holds almost as popular a 

 position as Robin himself, associated as both are in many a nursery tale, and also through being 

 likewise a winter resident and a visitor to our gardens and houses during inclement weather. 

 It is lively in its habits, hopping cheerily from place to place, seldom flying far, but keeping 

 principally to the hedgerows or gardens, though oftentimes climbing trees, running round and 

 round them in search of the insects or larvae that may be secreted in the bark. It has an 



