336 SYLVIADA. 
fine weather. This hardy little bird has been seen as early 
as the 12th and 14th of March; by the 20th several have 
been noticed, and they are frequently heard in the woods 
before the trees are in leaf to hide them. On their first 
arrival they are said to feed chiefly “on the larva of the 
different species of Tortriz that are rolled up in the un- 
folding buds of various trees, rendering good service in 
devouring those insects that would otherwise destroy a 
great part of the fruit. If the weather is fine and mild, 
they may be seen among the most forward trees in or- 
chards, flying from branch to branch, and from tree to 
tree, chasing each other, and catching the gnats and small 
flies that come in their way. In the summer they feed 
on the aphides which infest trees and plants, and they are 
also very partial to small caterpillars, flies, and moths.” 
These birds frequent shady woods, hedgerows, and 
bushes; and their song, sometimes given while the bird 
is on the wing, and frequently from a branch of a tall tree, - 
consists, as before mentioned, of two notes mopeaied several 
times in succession. 
The nest is in form like that of the Willow Warbler, 
oval, or rounded, with a hole in the side by which the 
little bird enters. The outside of the nest is composed of 
dried grass, dead leaves and moss, lined with a profusion 
of feathers. It is generally placed on or near the ground 
in a hedgebank, sometimes raised a little above the ground 
in a low bush. Mr. Henry Doubleday sent me notice 
of an instance in which he found the nest of this bird, 
formed externally of dead leaves, placed in dead fern, at 
least two feet from the ground; and Mr. Hewitson men- 
tions another, at an equal elevation, that was built in some 
ivy against a garden wall. ‘The eggs are usually six in 
number, about seven lines in length by five lines and a 
