BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 151 



The nest is made of moss and grass, and lined 

 with feathers and hair. The eggs, from five to 

 seven in number, are white, sprinkled with pale 

 brownish-orange spots. All the three species of 

 willow-wrens are migratory : they arrive in Britain 

 in April, and depart in September. If reared for 

 the cage, — ^and this species is really worth the at- 

 tention of amateurs, — they are fed and managed as 

 the redbreast and other soft-billed birds. 



Description and Plumage, 



Tlie wUlow-wren is very slender in its make, and 

 long in proportion to its size. In length it is about 

 five inches and a quarter; the bill hair-brown above, 

 dingy straw-yellow below ; eyes hazel, or umber- 

 brown ; over the eyes there is a pale-yellow streak ; 

 head, back, wings, and tail, very pale-yellowish 

 bro\^Ti, inclining to mne-yellow; breast and under 

 parts pale, but dingy primrose-yellow, streaked 

 on the breast with some darker marks of the same 

 colour; wing-coverts the same ; legs and feet wood* 

 brown.. 



