At all these birds we have now taken a peep. We have found them in their proper haunts, examined their skill as architects, and their powers as musicians. We have inquired into the nature of their food, the number and colour of their eggs, and their mode of rearing their young; any peculiar adaptation of structure to habits or curious mode of living has been duly noted; and, not content with studying them at home, we have followed these delicate visitors to foreign climes, and found them in their winter quarters. It is hoped that the reader ere he closes this volume will have gleaned some little information that may be new to him concerning these most interesting families of small birds, whose fairy forms in summer time flit so continually before us, and whose presence or absence makes so great a difference to the naturalist in his enjoyment of a country walk. FOOTNOTES. [1]“Nat. Hist. Ireland;” Birds, i. pp. 176, 177. [2]“Hist. Brit. Birds,” ii. p. 292. [3]As to other changes in the fauna and flora which have taken place since Gilbert White’s day in the district of which he wrote, the reader may be referred to the Preface to my edition of the “Natural History of Selborne” recently published. [4]_Cf._ More, “Ibis,” 1865, p. 22. [5]Yarrell, “Hist. Brit. Birds,” 4th ed. vol. i. pp. 427, 442. [6]Mr. Blake-Knox subsequently corrected his statement, remarking that he had by mistake written _second_ instead of _third_ primary quill. The first primary is so rudimentary as almost to escape observation. [7]Dr. Bree states that he has occasionally observed the Willow Wren taking currants from his trees. [8]See Professor Newton’s edition of Yarrell’s “History of British Birds,” vol. i. p. 360. [9]See Professor Newton’s edition of Yarrell’s “History of British Birds,” vol. i. p. 360. [10]This specimen was recorded at the time by Dr. Carte in the “Journal of the Royal Dublin Society,” vol. i. p. 440. [11]Note to his edition of White’s “Selborne,” 1836, p. 141. [12]See Ellis’s “Specimens of the Early English Poets,” vol. ii. p. 356. [13]Sir Thos. Browne’s Works, Wilkin’s ed. vol. ii. p. 537. [14]_Cf._ “Handbook of British Birds,” p. 106. [15]“Syst. Uebers. d. Vögel Nord-Ost Afrika’s,” p. 57. [16]See “List of British Birds, as a Guide to the Ornithology of Cornwall,” 2nd edition, 1869, p. 15. [17]“The Birds of Shetland,” p. 73. [18]“Ibis,” 1864, p. 67. [19]“Ibis,” 1860, p. 231. [20]_Cf._ “Ibis,” 1865, p. 25. [21]This was in Haddingtonshire, by Mr. Hepburn. See “Ibis,” 1865, p. 24. [22]“Ibis,” 1865, p. 23. [23]_Cf._ Newton, P. Z. S., 1866, p. 210. [24]“Ibis,” 1867, p. 468. [25]_Cf._ J. H. Gurney, jun., “Zoologist,” 1871, p. 2521. [26]“Ibis,” 1860, p. 232. [27]“Ibis,” 1867, p. 426. [28]The specific name _arundinacea_, which is commonly applied to this species, belongs properly to the Great Reed Warbler, the _Turdus arundinaceus_ of Linnæus.