being composed of grass and moss, with dead leaves, warmly 

 lined with feathers. Of the eggs I have seen but the two 

 varieties figured ; they are of about equal occurrence. 



Mr. Neville Wood, in his British Song-Birds, quotes a 

 letter from Dr. Liverpool describing the readiness with which 

 the Willow Wren becomes sociable. To this I can add a most 

 interesting instance. To ascertain, beyond the possibility of 

 doubt, the identity of the two varieties of eggs figured, I had 

 captured on their nests several of the birds. Amongst these 

 was one which I carried home and confined during the night 

 in a large box ; and such was its lameness that when I took it 

 out the following morning, and would have set it at liberty, 

 it seemed to have no wish to leave my hand, and would hop 

 about the table where I was sitting, picking up flies which I 

 caught for it. 



In the autumn, previous to their departure, the Willow Wrens 

 frequent our orchards and gardens, where they may be seen 

 busily picking insects from the pea straw and other vegetables ; 

 the young ones easily distinguished by their brighter colouring 

 of yellow. At the time at which I write this, August 14, they 

 may be heard amongst the extensive cider orchards of Somer- 

 setshire, warbling their farewell song, but in a tone far differ- 

 ent from that of their first glad visit in the spring, and so 

 subdued that it is scarcely audible. 



