140 
SYLVIAD.E. 
the third and fourth, Y’hich are the longest in the wing. A dusky 
line passes from the base of the beak through the eye, above 
which is a pale yellow streak ; the feathered orbits of the 
eyes are consequently pale yellow above and below the eye, 
and dark at the corners. The throat and breast are strongly 
tinged wdth yellow upon a white ground, which passes into 
pure white upon the belly; the flanks are tinged with brown, 
and the under tail coverts with primrose yellow. The fea¬ 
thered ridge is yellow : the under wing coverts and edges of 
the quills beneath, silvery white ; the rest of the under surface 
of the quills and tail greyish brown. The cheeks and sides 
of the neck are tinged with brown. The eye is brown : 
the beak pale brown edged with ochre yellow : the legs yel¬ 
lowish brown. In some specimens the legs are silver grey, 
with the soles of the feet buff yellow. After their autumnal 
moult, the green and yellow tints upon the plumage of these 
birds is more perfect. 
The male and female are very nearly alike : the male a 
little the yellowest upon the breast. 
The young birds are still more yellow after the autumnal 
moult than the parents, and remain so until after their return 
in the following spring, their upper parts being olive green, 
their under parts pale sulphur yellow, with white bellies: 
their beak and legs inclining to flesh-colour. 
The entire length of the Willow Wren is five inches and a 
quarter. The M'ing measures two inches and a half from the 
carpus to the tip : the tail feathers measure two inches, and 
extend one inch beyond the end of the closed wings. The 
beak measures four lines from the forehead, and is very sharp- 
pointed : the nostrils are oval. The legs measure nine lines, 
and are very slender and delicate. 
In these birds the adult moult in July, and the young in 
August. 
The egg of the Willow Wren is figured 72. 
