192 
SYLVIAM. 
until the time of departure. The young birds, too, may sometimes 
be heard going over their notes in a much weaker tone than the 
old ones. Mr. J. Y. Stewart gives a representation of the song 
in musical notes, in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, 
vol. v. p. 581. 
A friend who has had many nests of the willow wren, describes 
them all to have been composed of fine hay,* and lined with feathers. 
They were situated on the ground at the foot of trees, except 
in two instances, in one of which the nest was placed in a meadow, 
several yards distant from the hedge ; and in the other, on the side 
of a ditch-bank, about four feet above the level ground. There was 
usually a long approach to them through the brake. My corres- 
pondent at Clonmel has met with a nest in ivy, upon a wall. 
Towards the end of August, I was once amused on perceiving 
several willow wrens rising into the air from some pea-rods in our 
garden, after the manner of the spotted flycatcher when on its 
aerial captures : two of them were thus occasionally occupied at 
the same time. A few flycatchers (. Muscicapa grisola ) were also 
on the pea-rods, from which they now and then sallied after their 
winged prey, having thus apparently prompted the S. Trochilus to 
these flights. 
In the north of Ireland, this species frequents plantations, from 
those of the little garden or spacious square in the town, to the most 
elevated on the mountains. Although, from the circumstance qf its 
general occurrence in pleasure-grounds and gardens the name 
of “ willow wren ” may be thought “ unmeaning," t I cannot so 
consider it. This name was doubtless bestowed upon the bird 
originally on account of its partiality to willows, which I have 
frequently remarked the twigs and branches of the commmon osier 
(Salix viminalis), abounding with aphides, being on such occasions 
its chief favourite. I have never seen these birds so numerous 
anywhere, — several continental countries, as France, Italy, &c., 
* From the use of this material in the construction of its nests, the willow wren 
in some places, received the name of hay-bird. 
f See note to White’s Selborne, p. 84, ed. 1837. 
