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THE WILLOW WREN. 



Sylvia trochilus, Linn, (sp.) 

 Motacilla „ „ 



Is a regular summer visitant, and commonly dispersed 

 over suitable localities throughout the island. 



Montagu has remarked that " it is frequently found with the 

 wood wren, but does not extend so far to the west in England, as 

 it is rarely met with in Cornwall." If there be thus a diminution 

 of numbers to the west in England, the circumstance must arise 

 from some other cause than geographical situation, as in Ireland 

 the willow wren ranges to the counties jutting out to the extreme 

 south-west and north-west of the island, being common both to 

 Kerry and to Donegal.* 



In the neighbourhood of Belfast, this species generally appears 

 about the middle of April, when its presence is at once proclaimed 

 by its song. My notes of the earliest arrival here during eleven 

 years, are April, 6th, 1833; 7th, 1834; 8th, 1844 :— the latest, 

 April 24th, 1837 (a very late spring) ; and 23rd in 1842, on 

 which day they appeared very generally in different districts. So 

 early as the 2nd of April, 1848, a willow wren was seen near 

 that town. When on the island of Ireland's Eye, off the Dublin 

 coast, on the 23rd of April, 1835, a flock of eight of these birds 

 appeared, from which one was shot. They were doubtless on 

 migration, but were not the earliest comers, as the species was 

 observed on the 20th of the same month about Belfast. 



The willow wren is commonly seen until the middle of Sep- 

 tember. On the 24th of tins month, and on the 10th of October, 

 1832, I heard it sing; on the former occasion incessantly so 

 long as I gave attention, — about half an hour. Erom the period 

 of arrival until moulting commences, the song of the willow wren 

 is constantly heard ; and so soon as that process is over, is recom- 

 menced, often in a weaker tone, and continued during fine weather 



* In Mr. Stewart's Catalogue the willow wren is set down as " common " in Don- 

 egal, where I have myself remarked it to be so. By Mr. T. F. Neligan, of Tralee, 

 it was stated to be very common in Kerry. 



