210 
allen’s naturalist's library. 
It is equally to be found in gardens and orchards, and even 
in the parks and shrubberies of towns. In the suburbs of Lon- 
don it is a common visitor during the spring and autumn 
migration, and is to be seen at the last-named time of year 
feeding with the Blackcaps on the elderberries. The song of 
the Willow-Warbler is more feeble than that of the Wood- 
Warbler, but is of the same trilling character, though the song 
is not so prolonged and is in a descending scale. After the 
breeding season and the autumnal moult has been accomplished, 
the bird recommences to sing, but as a rule at that season of 
the year it is generally silent, uttering only its “whit "-like 
call-note, and searching diligently for food, not only in the 
inland woods, but more particularly in the trees by the river- 
side. It is at this time of year that it more especially merits 
the name of “Willow "-Warbler, for it is a very common thing 
in the Thames Valley to see little parties of these birds feed- 
ing among the willows in August. 
Nest. — As with the Wood-Warbler, the nest of this species is * 
placed on the ground, and is very difficult to discover. With 
both of them the best way is to beat the ground with a stick, 
and so drive out the hen-bird from the nest. Not only is the 
entrance to the nest very small, but the materials of which it is 
composed greatly assimilate to the surroundings and aid in its 
concealment. The nest is half-domed, the rim of the entrance 
being built at an angle of about 45 0 . 
A nest taken in Sussex is now before us. It is neatly con- 
structed when taken away from its ragged surroundings, and is 
composed principally of dry grass-stems, with a good deal of 
moss near the top, and a few dead leaves interwoven ; on the 
outside are also a few feathers, among them one from the 
breast of a Cuckoo. Inside the nest is scantily lined with 
feathers. 
Eggs.— Five to eight in number. Ground-colour white, or l 
creamy -white, either numerously sprinkled with redd sh dots, 
or having the spots larger, more scattered, and sometimes in 
the form of blotches or tiny streaks, generally at the larger end 
of the egg. The shape of the egg varies considerably, being 
sometimes elongated, and at other times almost round, but the 
spots are always reddish. Axis, o~ 6 -o"j inch; diam., o'45-o'5. 
