AXD NEIGHBOURHOOD. 133 



consisted almost entirely of the double feathers of 

 the Emu (Dromceus 7Wvce-Jiollandice), which the 

 builders must have carried several hundred yards, 

 and this labour was undertaken notwithstanding the 

 close proximity to the nest of a poultry-yard, where, 

 one would imagine, the little birds could have sup- 

 plied themselves with feathers suitable for their 

 purpose in great variety and abundance. The eggs 

 of the AVillow-Wren are of a pure white, spotted 

 with light rusty red, therein differing from those of 

 the Wood-AVren and Chiffchaff, in which the spots 

 are of dark red, inclining to purple. This bird is a 

 common summer visitor to most parts of Europe, 

 and winters in great abundance in the gardens of the 

 subiu'bs of Algiers. 



53. CHIFFCHAFF. 



Phylloscopus minor. 



The Chiffchaff so closely resembles the Willow- 

 AYren that, with the exception of the distinctions 

 pointed out in treating of the latter, an account of 

 one will almost serve for both. The present species, 

 however, arrives earlier with us than the Willow- 

 Wren, and is often to be heard in the first week of 

 March. I have twice met with this species in our 

 district in the month of December. I think that 

 this bird is at least as common as the Willow- Wren 

 in such parts of our county as I am acquainted with ; 

 and its presence can hardly be overlooked by any 

 one who pays attention to birds from its incessant 

 cry (I cannot call it song), which is continued during 

 the entire stay of the bird in our country. The nest 



