492 



Figures notabiles. 



D'Aubenton, PI. Enl. 651. fig. 1; Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pi. 55; Kjaerb. Orn. Dan. 

 taf. xxi.; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 19. fig. 8; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 80. fig. 3; 

 Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 131. fig. 1 ; id. B. of G. Brit. ii. pi. 65; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. 

 pi. 73 ; Roux, Orn. Prov. pi. 288. 



Ad. capite et corpore supra, griseo-fuscis pallide viridi lavatis : uropygio magis flavo-viridi : alis et cauda 

 saturate griseo-fuscis, plumis extiis anguste flavo-viridi rnarginatis : remigibus vix albido apicatis : stria 

 superciliari flavo-viridi : gula, gutture et corpore subtus albis flavido tinctis : pectore cum hypochoudriis 

 cerviuo tiuctis ; rostro et pedibus fuscis : iride fusca. 



Adult Male (Hauipstead, 20th April). Upper parts generally greyish brown with a pale greenish tinge; 

 rump more of a yellowish-green tinge ; wings and tail dark greyish brown, the feathers externally 

 margined with yellowish green ; quills narrowly tipped with dirty white ; over the eye a narrow 

 greenish-yellow superciliary streak ; chin, throat, and underparts white washed with yellowish, the 

 breast and flanks tinged with buff ; legs and beak dull brown ; iris brown. Total length about 

 5 inches, culmen 042, wing 265, tail 215, tarsus - 82; bastard quill medium, the exposed part 

 measuring - 58, third quill longest, the fourth scarcely shorter, the second intermediate between the 

 fifth and sixth. 



Adult Female. Rather less than the male, but otherwise undistinguishable. 



(J//s. In Great Britain and in Central and temperate Europe the difference in plumage at different seasons 

 of the year is not great ; but in the autumn, birds of the year especially have the underparts much 

 more buff in tinge. In high latitudes, however, in full summer dress, the birds appear very bleached 

 in coloration, and in some every trace of yellow and green has disappeared, except a faint tinge on 

 the axillaries, wing-lining, and thighs. I do not possess a specimen in this stage of plumage; but 

 Mr. Scebohm has several in his collection. 



Tin; Willow- Wren is found throughout Europe generally, and in Asia as far east as the Jenesei 

 river and Persia. In winter it passes south in Africa as far as the Cape of Good Hope ; and some 

 few even remain to breed in North-western Africa, though most of those which winter there go 

 over to Europe in the spring. 



In Great Britain it is a summer resident, arriving late in March or early in April, remaining 

 with us to breed, and leaving again in September. It is generally distributed and common 

 throughout the whole of England, but is said to be less numerous in the western than in the 

 eastern counties. It breeds in every county; and, as Professor Newton remarks, "there is good 

 reason for believing that, being one of the species highly favoured by the spread of plantations 

 and the effects of strict game-preservation, its numbers have generally increased of late years 

 throughout the country." In Scotland it nests regularly up to Iloss, Sutherland, and Caithness, 

 and occurs now and then in Orkney, though it has not been recorded from the Hebrides. 

 Dr. Saxby, however, saw one in Shetland in October 1865. 



In Ireland, according to Thompson, the Willow- Wren is a regular summer visitant, and 

 commonly dispersed over suitable localities throughout the island. 



