66 WARBLER. 



Wren, Gen.Syn. iv. 506. Br. Zool. i. No. 154. Id.fol. 102. pi. 42. Id. Ed. 1812. i. 

 516. Collins, Birds, pi. 7. f. 7. 8. ^rc?. Zoo/, ii. No. 322. J/6in, i. t. 53. B. 

 Id. Song Birds, t. p. 64. Will. Engl. 229. pi. 42. Russ. Alep. 71. Hayes, Br. 

 Birds, pi. 38. Shaw's Zool. x. 763. pi. 60. Bewick, Birds, i. pi. p. 227. Lewin, 

 Birds, iu. pi. 111. Walcot, Birds, ii. 242. Pult. Dorset, p. 9. Orn. Dicf. 

 Graves, Br. Orn. V. ii. /d. Eggs, pt. 1. 



THE length of this well known bird is four inches, rarely more, 

 and the weight two drachms and three quarters. Bill slender, and 

 dusky brown ; irides hazel ; head, neck, and back, reddish brown, 

 crossed with numerous obscure dusky lines ; cheeks marked with 

 dirty white, mixed with rufous ; over each eye a pale reddish white 

 streak ; the under parts, as far as the breast, of this latter colour, 

 the rest of the plumage crossed with brown lines; quills barred 

 alternate with reddish and black ; and the tail crossed with dusky 

 lines like the back ; legs pale brown. 



This is common in England, and to be seen at all seasons ; it 

 makes a nest of a curious construction, in shape nearly oval, with 

 only one small entrance; chiefly made of moss or lichen, well lined 

 with feathers ; and the bird is said sometimes to build twice in a year. 

 It will, however, vary the materials according to the situation it is 

 placed in, so as to make it as little conspicuous to the observer as 

 possible: the eggs are eight, or at most ten, dusky white, with red- 

 dish markings, chiefly at the larger end, and each weighing about 

 twenty grains : the nest is frequently found in the corner of an 

 outhouse, stack of wood, hole of a wall, &c. when near habitations; 

 but if in the woods, often in a bush near the ground, stump of a 

 tree, or on the ground itself. Its song is a short, though pleasing, 

 warble, much louder than could be expected from the size of the 

 bird, and continues it throughout the year. I have heard it sing, 

 unconcerned, even during a fall of snow, and frequently very late 

 in the evening, when all but the Nightingale are silent. 



This species is found throughout Europe, but less common in the 

 colder regions; it is however not unfrequent in Sweden and Russia, 

 and has been met with at Aoonalashka. I trace it also as far south 



