191 
THE WILLOW WREN. 
Sylvia trochilus, Linn, (sp.) 
Motacilla „ ,, 
Is a regular summer visitant, and commonly dispersed 
over suitable localities throughout the island. 
Montagu has remarked that “ it is frequently found with the 
wood wren, but does not extend so far to the west in England, as 
it is rarely met with in Cornwall.'” If there be thus a diminution 
of numbers to the west in England, the circumstance must arise 
from some other cause than geographical situation, as in Ireland 
the willow wren ranges to the counties jutting out to the extreme 
south-west and north-west of the island, being common both to 
Kerry and to Donegal.* 
In the neighbourhood of Belfast, this species generally appears 
about the middle of April, when its presence is at once proclaimed 
by its song. My notes of the earliest arrival here during eleven 
years, are April, 6th, 1833; 7th, 1831; 8th, 1844: — the latest, 
April 24th, 1837 (a very late spring) ; and 23rd in 1842, on 
which day they appeared very generally in different districts. So 
early as the 2nd of April, 1848, a willow wren was seen near 
that town. When on the island of Ireland's Eye, off the Dublin 
coast, on the 23rd of April, 1835, a flock of eight of these birds 
appeared, from which one was shot. They were doubtless on 
migration, but were not the earliest comers, as the species was 
observed on the 20th of the same month about Belfast. 
The willow wren is commonly seen until the middle of Sep- 
tember. On the 24th of this month, and on the 10th of October, 
1832, I heard it sing; on the former occasion incessantly so 
long as I gave attention,— about half an hour. Erom the period 
of arrival until moulting commences, the song of the willow wren 
is constantly heard ; and so soon as that process is over, is recom- 
menced, often in a weaker tone, and continued during fine weather 
* In Mr. Stewart’s Catalogue the willow wren is set down as “ common ” in Don- 
egal, where I have myself remarked it to be so. By Mr. T. F. Neligan, of Tralee, 
it was stated to be very common in Kerry, 
