WOOD WHEN. 
131 
INSESSORES. 
DENTIROSTRES. SYLVIADM. 
PLATE LXXI. 
WOOD WREN. 
Sylvia sibilatrix. (Montagu.) 
The Wood Wben is found in many parts of England 
and Wales, but appears not more common than the chiff- 
chaff ; and is far less frequently met with than its congener 
the willow-wren. Its partiality for country of a peculiar 
character, renders it local. Like the preceding species, this 
is also a frequenter of wood and forest scenes, and delights 
in hilly districts clothed with ancient trees; particularly, as 
observed by White, where beeches most abound : it is also 
frequently met with in fir, oak, and birch woods. This is 
a lively and restless bird, but lonely and unsociable in its 
habits; and in the spring, soon after its arrival here, it is 
more often heard than seen, its singular note betraying its 
presence when the deep foliage, in which it usually resides, 
conceals it at that season from the observer. But in summer, 
when constructing its nest or feeding its young, a sight of 
it is more easily obtained. The usual station of the male 
is among the upper branches of a lofty tree, from which may 
be heard its sibilous note at frequent intervals; this note 
is heard from time to time throughout the summer, and as 
in the time of incubation the male does not wander far from 
the spot where his mate is sitting, the vicinity of the nest 
may be sometimes ascertained by this means. The nest 
