98 The Chiffchaff. 



opening; the thickest portion of the structure is at the top, probably with a view 

 to protection against rain ; the walls are formed of coarse dead grass-stems inter- 

 twined with dead blades of grass, plant-fibre, rootlets, dead as well as skeleton- 

 leaves and spiders' cocoons ; the inside is lined with fine rootlets, horsehair and 

 a number of feathers carefully smoothed down. The number of eggs varies from 

 five to seven, the former being the usual number; in colour they are pure white, 

 though when not blown the yolk gives them a pink tinge ; * they are more or 

 less dotted or spotted, as a rule, with deep chocolate or pitchy markings ; but 

 sometimes these spots are mixed with other larger ones of a sienna red colour, 

 with here and there a pale lavender shell spot. Sometimes the spots are chiefl}- 

 confined to the larger end, sometimes they form an unequal, oblique, and some- 

 what vague belt across the surface, often they are evenly scattered over the entire 

 ^SS ' ^^^t in spite of all these little modifications there is never the slightest 

 difficulty in recognizing, at a glance, the egg of the Chiffchaff, it is as character- 

 istic as that of the Lesser Whitethroat. 



The food of this species consists of many kinds of small insects, their larvae, 

 and of spiders : it also feeds on elder-berries and currants as soon as these are 

 ripe : it seeks its insect food chiefly in the trees, but does not scorn to snatch a 

 small beetle or spider from the ground, or to chase a gnat or fl}- in the air. Its 

 flight is very undulating and not specially rapid. 



The alarm-note is said to be a zv/a'/ somewhat resembling that of the Willow- 

 Wren ; but is not this its call-note t and the other note tr-r-r (to which no title 

 has been applied) its alarm or scolding note ? 



In his " Birds of Norfolk," Mr. Stevenson states, on the authority of Messrs. 

 Gurney and Fisher, that a low bush, frequently of furze, appears to be a favourite 

 localit}' for the nest of this species and that as many as four have been found in 

 such places within a few yards. I never knew the nest to occupj' such a site in 

 Kent, but birds appear to vary their habits greatly to suit their surroundings. 



I have not tried the Chiffchaff as an aviary bird ; but, unless it be intended 

 to breed it, when the furze-bush arrangement might be tried, I should hardl}' 

 think this species would pay for its keep : a few Willow- Warblers would be far 

 more pleasing in every wa}'. On the other hand, there is no doubt that when 

 once accustomed to the usual soft food, the Chiffchaff" would prove hard}' enough 

 and its graceful actions would be pleasing, but I doubt if any human being could 



• EgRS wliii'h have been jiarlly incubated lose Ihcir purity of colouring, becouiinj; .somewhat creamj' ; 

 but this is not a peculiarity of the Chiffchaff alone ; therefore to describe the egg as cream-coloureil is not 

 strictly correct. 



t The little White eyes C/.ostetofis spp.J, which always reminds me of the Willow-Wren on a small scale, 

 have a cleir call-note —it///.tf/. 



