192 SYLVIADiE. 



until the time of departure. The young birds, too, may sometimes 

 be heard going over their notes in a much weaker tone than the 

 old ones. Mr. J. V. Stewart gives a representation of the song 

 in musical notes, in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, 

 vol. v. p. 581. 



A friend who has had many nests of the willow wren, describes 

 them all to have been composed of fine hay,* and lined with feathers. 

 They were situated on the ground at the foot of trees, except 

 in two instances, in one of which the nest was placed in a meadow, 

 several yards distant from the hedge ; and in the other, on the side 

 of a ditch-bank, about four feet above the level ground. There was 

 usually a long approach to them through the brake. My corres- 

 pondent at Clonmel has met with a nest in ivy, upon a wall. 

 Towards the end of August, I was once amused on perceiving 

 several willow wrens rising into the air from some pea-rods in our 

 garden, after the manner of the spotted flycatcher when on its 

 aerial captures : two of them were thus occasionally occupied at 

 the same time. A few flycatchers (Muscicapa grisola) were also 

 on the pea-rods, from which they now and then sallied after their 

 winged prey, having thus apparently prompted the 8. Trochilus to 

 these flights. 



In the north of Ireland, this species frequents plantations, from 

 those of the little garden or spacious square in the town, to the most 

 elevated on the mountains. Although, from the circumstance of its 

 general occurrence in pleasure-grounds and gardens the name 

 of " willow wren " may be thought " unmeaning," f I cannot so 

 consider it. Tins name was doubtless bestowed upon the bird 

 originally on account of its partiality to willows, which I have 

 frequently remarked the twigs and branches of the commmon osier 

 (Salix viminalis), abounding with aphides, being on such occasions 

 its chief favourite. I have never seen these birds so numerous 

 anywhere, — several continental countries, as France, Italy, &c, 



* From the use of this material in the construction of its nests, the willow wren 

 in some places, received the name of hay-bird. 



f See note to White's Selborne, p. 84, ed. 1837. 



