THE WOOD WREN. 



Sylvia sylvicola, Lath. 



This elegant little bird, sometimes called the 

 Larger or Shaking Wood Wren, is frequently con- 

 founded with the Hay-bird {Sylvia trochilus) and 

 the Chiffchaff {Sylvia hippolais); from both of which 

 it is however easily distinguishable in plumage, 

 in expression, and manners. 



The Wood Warbler (says Mr. Mudie) is one of 

 the most beautiful of our summer visitants. 



The silvery whiteness of the under parts of this 

 bird has obtained for it in some places the local 

 name of " linty white." 



" This elegant and interesting little bird," observes 

 Mr. Sweet, " arrives in this country the beginning 

 of April, and leaves it in August or the beginning 

 of September. I have never observed it in any 

 other situation than amongst tall trees in woods 

 and plantations, where it is readily detected on its 

 arrival by its shrill shaking sort of note, which 

 may be heard at a great distance, and cannot be 

 confounded with the song of any other bird. When 

 it arrives, it continues to sing nearly all the day 

 long, and its song is continued more or less through 

 most part of the summer, except the time that it 

 is engaged in feeding its young ; it is then dis- 



