The Willow-Warbler. ioi 



The song of tlie Willow-Warbler is somewhat shrill, but decidedly pleasing ; 

 it vaguely reminds one of that of the Chaffinch, but the scale is irregular, being 

 more staccato ; though far less melodious it also bears a slight resemblance to the 

 song of the common Amaduvade Waxbill ; but differs, as a descending zigzag does 

 from a descending spiral, the notes sounding as if flung right and left. 



The nest is frequently placed amongst grass on the ground, or in branches 

 close to the ground, and almost hidden by grass and nettles ; sometimes, however, 

 it is found some feet above the ground, one which I took on the i6th June, 1881, 

 was built over two feet above the earth in a wild rose-bush in a large garden at 

 Tunstall in Kent; also in the "Zoologist" for 1878, Mr. E. P. P. Butterfield 

 states that in 1876 he observed a nest built between two rocks at a distance of three 

 feet, and another in 1878 in a clump of whins two feet from the ground; but 

 probably the greatest recorded altitude is that mentioned by Mr. x\lston, when the 

 nest was built in a hole in a wall nearly seven feet from the ground. 



The nest in form is usually cave-shaped or semi-domed, the thickest portion 

 being at the top as in the nest of the Chififchaff; but in 1883, I obtained a very 

 abnormal cup-shaped nest which was built under a gooseberry bush in an orchard : 

 the usual arched covering was rendered unnecessary from the fact that a large 

 clod of hard earth completely overhung the cup : in all probability this clod had 

 been accidentally flung over the nest when it was in course of construction and 

 the little architect instead of being scared away by the seeming misfortune, had 

 utilized it as a time- saver : this nest with its four beautifully spotted eggs is still 

 in my collection. 



The nesting materials consist of dry grass, either coarse or fine, mixed with 

 fern, dead leaves or moss, and spiders' cocoons; externally somewhat untidy in 

 appearance though firmly compacted : the lining consists of wool, hair, and plenty 

 of soft feathers, and has a neat and comfortable appearance. 



The eggs vary in number from four to eight ; but five to six are more 

 usually found : they are pure white, rarely unspotted, sometimes finely speckled and 

 distinctly zoned round the larger extremity with rust-red, sometimes prominently 

 spotted irregularly with the same colour. Apart from their usually superior size, 

 the totally dissimilar colour of the spots would preclude the possibility of these 

 eggs being confounded with those of the Chifichaff. 



Towards the end of July, 1887, a young example of the Willow- Warbler was 

 brought to me by two lads of my acquaintance, it had flown into their parents' 

 house, probably in pursuit of flies. At flrst it was very wild, so I turned it into 

 a cage, about eighteen inches cubic measure, with a hand-reared Sedge- Warbler. 

 The following morning, as I was offering a fly to the latter bird, the Willow- 



