The MELODIOUS WILLOW WREN (_Hypolais hortensis_ or _Hypolais salicaria_),
one of the five species of this group known in Europe, is greenish grey
on the upper portions of the body, and light sulphur yellow beneath;
the quills are pale blackish brown, edged with green on the outer web;
the tail-feathers are lighter than the quills, and are bordered on the
exterior web with dirty white; the eye is dark brown, the beak greyish
brown, and reddish yellow at the base of the lower mandible; the foot is
light blue. The length of the body is five inches and a half, the breadth
nine inches and a half; the wing measures three inches and one-third,
and the tail two inches. Central Europe must be regarded as the actual
home of this pretty bird, but it is also met with in the northern part of
the Continent as far as Scandinavia; it is but rarely seen in the south,
where it is replaced by very similar species. Its autumnal migrations
extend as far as Africa, and are commenced unusually early in the season,
as this bird is particularly delicate and quite unable to endure the
vicissitudes of climate so prevalent on our continent at the close of the
year; nor does it venture to return until the spring is far advanced,
and the trees are completely covered with their leaves. As their name
implies, the Garden Warblers almost invariably resort to cultivated
districts, and prefer orchards, hedges, and gardens. When compelled to
occupy the latter situations they generally frequent such trees as skirt
the denser parts of the thicket, into whose recesses they rarely venture
to penetrate, and are never met with in forests of fir or pine, or in
mountain regions. In the localities favoured by their presence a certain
limited district is selected, and to this the birds regularly return,
season after season, defending their little territory from all intrusion
with the utmost courage and obstinacy. In an instance that came under
our own notice a pertinacious individual occupied the same domain for
seven successive years. The voice of this species varies considerably in
quality, but is never remarkable for sweetness; indeed, its only charm
may be said to consist in the spirit and animation with which the singer
pours out his notes, as he flutters about the highest trees, or perches,
with body erect and raised crest, upon a projecting branch. When upon
the ground the Melodious Willow Wren hops with difficulty, and usually
with the head and neck thrown forward; in the air, on the contrary, it
moves with rapidity and lightness. Insects of all kinds constitute its
principal means of subsistence, but it also devours fruit, and does
considerable damage in the cherry orchards. It occasionally destroys
bees, and in an instance that came under our own notice the offending
bird actually beat against the hives in order to compel its unconscious
victims to come out. If undisturbed the Melodious Willow Wren breeds but
once in the year, usually at the end of May or beginning of June; the
eggs, from four to six in number, are rose-red or reddish grey, veined
and spotted with black or reddish brown. The very beautiful purse-shaped
nest is firmly built with grass, leaves, or any vegetable fibres,
intermixed with spiders' webs, paper, and similar materials; the interior
is lined with feathers and horsehair. The parents brood alternately, and
the young are hatched within thirteen days; the nestlings are reared upon
insects, and protected most carefully from danger by the wily stratagems
above alluded to.