78 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



" chit" repeated several times, followed by two notes, the first 

 sharp, the last drawled out — childhood's "Little — bit — of — 

 bread — and — NO — cheese," or the Scottish version, "Deil, 

 deil, deil, tak ye." The call-note is a loud " tchick," frequently 

 heard from winter flocks, and this is modulated and triplicated 

 by the amorous male in spring. February is the month when 

 Yellow Hammers begin singing, and they seldom stop before 

 late August or September ; considering that the bird sings 

 practically all day, he must repeat the performance many 

 thousand times a year. There is individual variation, and at 

 times the two last notes are omitted, but as a rule each bird 

 sticks to the same phrase and all have the same character ; few 

 songs exhibit so much sameness. This persistent song is more 

 of a challenge than a serenade, and it is frequently interrupted 

 by the dashing attack of a rival, for the Yellow Hammer is 

 pugnacious. Alike when perched or when flitting along the 

 hedge, the golden and rich rufous, almost orange, adornment of 

 the male attracts attention, and when he flies with tail half open or 

 expands it fully on alighting, long white marks on the outer tail 

 feathers catch the eye ; in spring he intentionally opens and 

 moves his tail so as to attract the eye of his mate. 



In summer insects are largely eaten, but in winter the haunts 

 vary according to the food supply ; the flocks wander about the 

 fields seeking seeds and regularly visit stubbles, but frost drives 

 them to the stackyards with other buntings and finches. The 

 flight is undulating ; when a flock is passing over, every bird 

 will, as if by command, suddenly dive down to a tree and 

 settle in the branches, but at most times is a ground rather than 

 arboreal species. If we approach a feeding flock, the birds 

 crouch, w^ith the breast almost touching the ground, preparing 

 for the upward spring if danger threatens. 



The nest, built of grass and moss and lined with hair, is 

 either on or near the ground (Plate 30), a hedge bank, especially 

 when rising from a ditch^ being a common site. Three to five 



