CHIFFCHAFF 71 



Oil the 27tb never noticed them more numerous or 

 noisy." At Blackheath Mr. C. ColKngwood first noticed 

 the " Chiffchaff in Love Lane on April 3, 1854, and he 

 says it recommenced to sing on August 31." 



Mr. W. H. Power, in his notes in the Birds of Bain- 

 ham, says : " It is a remarkable fact that, although the 

 Willow^ Wren is so common, yet the Chiffchaff itself is 

 exceedingly rare in this district. I never heard it before 

 this year (1865), and even then quite late in the season, 

 namel}', the second week in September." It is migratory, 

 and moderately common in the Stourmouth district, 

 according to Mr. G. Dowker, who adds the following 

 localities: Nonington, W. 0. Hammond; Dover, C. 

 Gordon and Dr. Plomley ; Ehustone, Rev. W. B. Delmar ; 

 Folkestone, H. UUyett. It is a summer visitor to the 

 Mailing valley, Bev. C. H. Fielding, It is also found in 

 the Bethersden district, Captain J. D. Cameron ; and 

 common at Orlestone and the neighbourhood, E. T, 

 Filmer ; and it was heard on April 12, 1902, in the same 

 district. Mr. J. B. Groom, of Maidstone, heard a Chiff- 

 chaff on March 3, 1906, on Boxley Hills, in Kent. 



In the Zoologist, 1899, Dr. A. G. Butler gives some 

 interesting particulars respecting the Chiffchaff and its 

 nest. "My friend, Mr. George Alcock, who is much 

 interested in British birds, sends me the following note, 

 which, I think, is worth publishing : ' A Chiffchaff' {Phijl- 

 loscopits riifiis) built in my garden at the top of a yew 

 10 feet above the ground. It built a second time on the 

 top of a box-bush 4 feet above the ground. I have 

 found scores, but have never before seen one in these 

 positions. In each case the young came to maturity. 

 There were four eggs each time.' " 



Respecting the Chiffchaff singing in autumn, Mr. A. 



