YELLOW WILLOW WREN. 



Wren being light brown, and of the Chiff-chaff 

 dusky. 



When the males of these birds (observes Mr. 

 Mudie) first arrive, which in the South of England 

 is very early in April, they perch on the tops of 

 hedges, bushes, and willows, and raise their song, 

 to which there is a very peculiar prelude. First 

 there is a sort of broken chirp, then a retiring 

 tinkle, and after that the song, consisting of three 

 distinct notes, but modulated into many more. 

 Its habits somewhat resemble those of the Wrens 

 and Creepers, as it is found running among the 

 branches, and partially on the stems. 



Like most of the early visitants, these birds 

 come in small flocks ; but they separate soon after 

 their arrival, form their pairs, and commence their 

 building, which is rather a laborious operation. 

 If the weather prove kindly, they go on well ; but 

 if frost set in, as it often does, they suffer con- 

 siderably by the cold, and probably also from 

 hunger : several are found dead if such weather 

 continue, and the song of the remainder ceases 

 for a time.* 



This bird is sometimes called Ground Wren, 

 or Ground Huckmuck. 



* Mudie's British Birds. 



