CHAPTER VI 



THE SECRET OF THE WILLOW WREN 



The willow wren is one of the commonest and 

 undoubtedly the most generally diffused of the 

 British songsters. He is a summer visitor, one 

 of the earliest to arrive, usually appearing on 

 the South Coast in the last week in March ; 

 a little later he may be met with in very nearly 

 every wood, thicket, hedge, common, marsh, 

 orchard, and large garden throughout the 

 kingdom — it is hard to say, writes Seebohm, 

 where he is not found. Wherever there are 

 green perching-places, and flies and aphides to 

 feed upon, there you will see and hear the 

 willow wren. He is a sweet and very constant 

 singer from the date of his arrival until about 

 the middle of June, when he becomes silent 

 for a season, resuming his song in July, and 



