THE RTLVIIDiE OF SOLWAT. 145 



hedge or dense bush. Its nesting form and site are, however, 

 pretty steady and fairly free from abnormality, and there can 

 be no mistaking its nest, although the eggs are often difficult 

 to distinguish from those of its cousin, the Chiff Chaff — the 

 species that next comes up for consideration. 



VII.— The Chiff Chaff. 

 (PhylloBcopus rufus.) 



Few observers have sufficient confidence in their own eyes, or 

 sufficient grasp of specific distinctions, to be able to differentiate 

 the Chiff Chaff off-hand from the Willow Warbler when seen at 

 large in the wilds. The greater darkness of the legs, the equal 

 lengths of the second and sixth primaries, and the more rounded 

 wings of the Chiff Chaff are characters that render the two birds 

 easily distinguishable one from the other. So sayeth a great 

 cabinet-ornithologist (Sharpe's Brit. Birds, Vol. I., p. 212), and 

 iu calling him so I disclaim any intention whatever of indulging 

 in a sneer. Far from it. But let anyone constantly in the 

 habit of handling skins, and thoroughly conversant with the 

 specific differences betwixt the Willow Warbler and the Chiff 

 Chaff, be called upon to observe these respective species in life 

 and motion, and his knowledge of such structural characters 

 will avail him nothing at all. He will notice, of course, a lesser 

 size and a dingier coloration in the Chiff Chaff, but no more 

 than he will find in a comparatively small party of Willow 

 Warblers. The field ornithologist will bring in to his aid 

 another set of distinctions not to be found in the dried skin, 

 and he will note, like his brother from the museum drawers, 

 that anatomical characters in this instance are of no use. But 

 to the practised observer the more upright carriage or bearing, 

 more jerky movements, more alert appearance, thinner voice 

 and more querulous tones, and the regularly repeated double 

 notes of cheep chip (all being slight but dependable differences 

 or peculiarities) will enable him to correctly diagnose the species 

 under observation. 



I wonder if it is in accordance with the observations of others 

 that the Chiff Chaff and the Wood Warbler do not occur together 



