CHIFF-CHAFF. 49 



coppices, woods and hedgerows, and often in the osier 

 beds near a river. It is also fond of tall trees, and 

 from them we may hear its somewhat monotonous 

 song poured out above us, " Chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff," 

 though perhaps it more often gives us three notes 

 than two. 



It very much resembles the two preceding birds in 

 appearance, but it is slightly the smallest of the three, 

 and has shorter wings and browner plumage. Like 

 them too it feeds on insects and flies, with an occa- 

 sional caterpillar. 



The nest is partially domed, and is very like the 

 Willow Wren's, but it is not so well made. It is 

 formed of grasses, leaves and roots, with sometimes a 

 little bark and wool, and lined with roots, horsehair 

 and a quantity of feathers. I once discovered a nest 

 only just begun with the groundwork loosely woven 

 together, and visited it frequently every day, watching 

 the grassy ball grow thicker and thicker until the 

 thick carpet of feathers was finally deposited and the 

 first egg laid. How wonderful it was ! It was placed 

 among the leaves of a bramble, about a foot from the 

 ground ; and at about this height I have invariably 

 found it, though it is frequently placed on the ground 

 itself. 



The eggs, very round at the larger end, five to seven 

 in number, are white, and spotted with blackish red 

 or purple brown. In some eggs the spots are paler. 

 This bird may also be kept in confinement and be- 

 comes very tame. It is perhaps the most hardy of all 

 the Warblers and the most easily reared. 



