50 



which it either catches on the wing or picks off the foliage of the trees it frequents ; and it is, 

 comparatively speaking, seldom seen searching for food on the ground. Naumann says that in 

 the autumn, should the weather be bad and insects scarce, it will feed on berries ; but I do not 

 recollect to have ever from personal experience found this to be the case. 



Its nest is, like those of its allies, domed, placed on the ground, and constructed of dry 

 grass-bents, a little green moss, and lined with a few hairs and finer bents. Naumann, who, as 

 is well known, was an excellent observer, says that it sometimes lines its nest with wool and 

 feathers ; but, so far as I can ascertain, this must be very exceptional. Mr. Sachse gives me the 

 following notes respecting the nidification of the present species, viz. : — " The nest of the Wood- 

 Wren is placed in woodlands, in rather more open places than the dense forest, and often near 

 old paths, and never in or above, but always on the ground. The nest is extremely difficult to 

 find ; and I have sometimes sought for it for hours in vain, although I knew it must be close to 

 me. I usually find it by seeing the bird fly out ; and it then generally feigns to be wounded, to 

 entice one away. The nest is domed, and has stout walls ; and when it is placed near the path 

 the opening is always hidden from view. I have generally found it concealed amongst the dry 

 foliage, and sometimes hidden by a tussock of grass. It is neatly lined with fine grass-bents 

 and horsehair ; and the contents can only be seen if one bends down close to it on the ground. 

 The number of eggs varies from five to seven, six being the normal number ; and I have found 

 fresh eggs from the 25th May to the 6th June. They vary greatly both in form and size : I 

 possess one clutch of seven, which are elongated and as large as those of the common Swallow, 

 and another of five, which are short and round and not larger than those of the Chiffchaff." 



Eggs of the Wood- Wren, of which I possess a tolerable series in my collection, are white, 

 minutely spotted and speckled with deep purplish-red spots, sometimes with a brownish tinge ; 

 and here and there are a few pale purplish-grey underlying shell-dots: in some the spots are 

 more numerous round the larger end, forming a wreath. In size the eggs average about f$ by 

 \% inch. 



The specimen figured (on the same Plate with Phylloscopus bonellii) is an adult male from 

 Piedmont, being the bird above described. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, b, c. Middlesex {H. E. D.). d, 6 . Purley, near Reading, May 4th, 1870 {R. B. Sharpe). e, S ,f, 2- 

 Sardinia, April 1870. g, t$ . Piedmont, April 28th, 1870 {Count Salvadori). 



E Mus. H. S. Tristram. 



a. Castle Eden, Durham (H. B. T.). 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a. Usern, Switzerland, b, d. Valencia, Spain, April 14th (H. S.). c. Bastia, Corsica, April 10th, 1875 

 (C. B. Wharton). 



4n 



