SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



a small opening near the top, composed of moss 

 and dried grass, and lined with feathers. This 

 is placed in the hollow of a ditch, or in a low bush 

 close to the ground. " The materials of the nest," 

 says Mr. Rennie, " are a framework of dried grass 

 stems, intermixed with a few bits of green moss 

 (hypnum prcelongum, 8$c), and sometimes a few 

 leaves or thin flexible slips of birch-bark, with a 

 warm lining of soft feathers within, laid more loose- 

 ly than is usual in such nests. The entrance, which 

 is in front, immediately under the arched dome, is 

 considerably wider than that of the common Wren, 

 though the bird itself is no thicker, but a trifle 

 longer in the body."* 



The eggs are six or seven in number, white, 

 spotted with light rust colour towards the larger 

 end ; others are sprinkled all over. 



Mr. Mudie says of the nest, that the materials 

 used in the external parts are dry vegetable fibres, 

 and rarely, if ever, moss. The fibres of course 

 vary with what the locality supplies ; but the culms 

 of the wild grasses of the former year, together 

 with the slender wiry leaves which have faded in 

 the winter, are the predominating ones ; so that the 

 nest is externally like a little clot of hay, and 

 hence the vernacular name of " Hay-bird." 



The plumage of this species is so like that of 

 the Chiff-chaff, that were it not for its superior 

 size, it would be difficult to distinguish them. The 

 size and the colour of the legs are, however, an 

 unerring mark of distinction ; those of the Willow 



* Architecture of Birds. 



