20 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



and as regards the character of their nests, 

 they differr emarkably from other members 

 of the Sylviidce in building domed nests on 

 or near the ground, instead of cup -shaped 

 nests at a distance from it. The Yellow- billed 

 Chiff-chaff — or Icterine Warbler, as it should 

 now be called ' — however, forms an exception 

 to the rule, as will be seen later. As these 

 little birds make their appearance at a season 

 when caterpillars and destructive larvae begin 

 to be troublesome, the good they do in ridding 

 the young leaves and buds of these pests is 

 incalculable. I have watched a Willow Wren 

 picking the green aphis off a standard rose-tree, 

 and have been as much astonished at the quan- 

 tity which it consurned as at the rapidity of the 

 consumption. The Wood Warbler is not nearly 

 so sociable as either the Willow Warbler or the 

 Chiff-chaff It keeps to the tops of trees in 

 woods and plantations, and seldom comes into 

 gardens ; hence it is not so often seen. Al- 



1 See Professor Newton's edition of Yarrell's " History of 

 British Birds," vol. i. p. 360. 



