1 1 5 . P h y l lo pn eu s t e t r o c h il u s
WILLOW-W REN.
Vol. II. PI. LXV.
Arrives from the south about the middle o f April, and diligently commences to search for insects amon«-
the newly expanded leaves of the willow and other trees, and, after making its dome-shaped, grassy, feather-
Imed nest on the ground and rearing its young, retires to whence it came upon the earliest access o f cold
weather. When here it is generally dispersed over the three kingdoms.
1 1 6 . P h y l l o pn e u s t e ru fa
C h if f c h a f f .
Vol. II. Pi. LXVI.
One of the earliest spring migrants from the sunny south, many individuals frequently appearing in March.
Solitary instances are on record o f its having been seen here during the winter months; and as I found it at
the same season a t Malta, it is evidently a more hardy bird than the Willow-Wren, from which it differs in the
character o f its song, and in the places selected for the site o f its dome-shaped nest, which is frequently
built in a bush. It is very generally dispersed, but somewhat less numerous in Scotland than in England.
117. P h y l l o pn e u s t e s ib il a t r ix . . . .
W ood-YVr e n .
Vol. II. PI. LXVII.
Although I have kept this bird in the present genus, it has ju st claims to generic distinction, its much
longer wings, peculiar song, and brighter colouring not being quite accordant with either the Willow-Wren
or the Chiffchaff—and, indeed, has had that o f SibUatra assigned to it by Professor Kanp. With ns it is a
true summer visitant, arriving later than the two birds above mentioned, its tremulous sibilant note not
being usually heard until May. Although commonly dispersed over England and Scotland, it is rare in
Ireland. Breeds on the ground, generally making a nest o f grasses only. Departs in autumn, and winters
in Africa.
Genus R eg u l o id e s .
Comprises a series o f small eastern birds allied to P/yBopnemte and Regulus. The species which has
paid England occasional visits is an inhabitant of Europe and Northern India, where others o f the form are
also found.
1 1 8 . R eg u l o id e s su p e r c il io s u s
Y e l low - brow ed W a r b l e r .
Vol. II. PI. LXVIII.
The particulars o f the capture o f this species in England, as recorded by Mr. Harting, a r e :__
“ One, Hartley Point, Northumberland: Hancock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. ii. p. 3 1 0 ; Blyth,
Zoologist, 1863, p. 8 3 2 9 ; Yarrell, Hist, o f Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 380.
“ One, Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham, I lt li Oct. 1 867: Gould, Ibis, 1869, p. 128.”
Hab. Northern Asia, India, Nepaul, China, Japan, and Formosa. Has occurred accidentally in Sweden, in
Heligoland, and Berlin, and near Leyden.
1 1 9 . R e g u l o id e s calen d u la .
Ruby-crowned Wren.
All th at is known respecting the occurrence o f this species in our islands is comprised in the following
note from Mr. R. Gray's ‘ Birds o f Western Scotland:
“ In the summer o f 1852, Dr. Dewar, of Glasgow, shot a specimen of this North-American species m
Kenmore Wood, on the banks of Loch Lomond. The bird was exhibited a t a meeting of the Natural-
History Society of Glasgow on the 27 th o f April, 1858, and identified by me. Dr. Dewar stated th at he
had found it in company with a large llock of Goldcrests, and that he had shot a dozen birds altogether before
he recognized the differences which this one presented. Dr. Bree, in his work on the birds o f Europe, states
th at the Rev. H. B. Tristram has a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in his possession, which was given him in the
flesh, and which was killed by a Durham pitman, in 1852, in Brancepeth woods; from this it would seem
th at a second example has occurred in this country.
Genus R e g u l u s .
The Golden-crested Wrens or Kinglets are a charming group of small birds inhabiting the northern
regions of the Old and New Worlds. In their actions and in their mode o f nidification they remind us of
the F a r id a or T its ; but no one has yet, I believe, removed them from among the true Sylvian birds, nor
shall I do so in the present work. England is tenanted by two species, which, with one o r two others, are
all th at are known in the Old World ; in the new portion o f the globe there may be as many more. In
disposition they are as tame as they are sprightly and pleasing in their actions. They suspend a neat
hammock-shaped nest beneath the branches of fir o r other trees. Their eggs are numerous; and the
progeny soon acquire the plumage o f the adult.
Vol. II. PI. LXIX.
1 2 0 . R e g u l u s c r is t a t u s . ................................................................................
G o l d en - c r e s t e d W r e n .
A native of Europe, and doubtless other countries to the south and eastward. With us it is a resident
species, and frequents alike the three kingdoms.
Vol. II. PI. LXX.
1 2 1 . R eg u lu s i g n i c a p i l l u s ................................................................................
F ir e -c r e s t e d W r e n .
Very generally dispersed over the continent o f Europe and North Africa; it is purely an accidental
visitant to Britain.