62 CHIFFCHAFF. 



Abyssinia ; also in Arabia, Palestine, Asia Minor and Persia. In 

 the Canary Islands it is a resident, and there, according to Capt. 

 S. G. Reid, R.E., its song has become longer and more desultory. 



The nest of the Chiffchaff is usually placed near to, but a little 

 above, the ground, in rank vegetation and ferns ; occasionally in 

 ivy against a wall, at an elevation of a couple of feet or so, while 

 instances are on record where — in England and in the Canaries — 

 the nest has been found from three to five feet up, in laurel, 

 holly, and other bushes. In this country nidification begins about 

 the end of April ; the oval dome-shaped nest, with a hole rather 

 nearer the top than the middle, being composed of dry grass, 

 leaves and moss, with an abundance of feathers as a lining. The 

 eggs, commonly 6 in number, are normally of a pure or a creamy- 

 white, spotted with purplish-brown, and sometimes with underlying 

 blotches of violet-grey ; occasionally spotted with pale red : average 

 measurements '6 in. by "45 in. The song, if such it may be called, 

 is continued throughout the summer, and by it the presence of the 

 bird is often betrayed, while the owner of the voice is invisible, 

 for the Chiffchaff frequents the branches of loftier trees than 

 the Willow- Wren does ; groves of tall elms being peculiarly attrac- 

 tive. Its food consists of insects and their larvae. By October the 

 autumn-migration from our islands may be said to have terminated, 

 except for those individuals which, as already stated, occasionally 

 remain till December or even through the winter, and, if severe 

 weather sets in, pay the penalty for running such a risk. 



The adult in spring: — olive-green on the upper parts, rather 

 yellower on the rump; a pale yellow streak above the eye, passing 

 into W'hite behind the ear-coverts ; wing-coverts, quills and tail- 

 feathers dull brown, edged with olive-green ; chin, throat, breast, 

 belly and lower tail-coverts dull white, tinged with greenish-buff; 

 under wing-coverts pale yellow ; bill brown ; iris hazel ; legs and 

 feet very dark brown. Length 475 in. ; wing 2 '4 in ; tarsus "6 in. 

 The plumage is alike in both sexes. The young are slightly 

 greener than the adults and the eye-streak is fainter. After the 

 autumn moult the yellow tint in the plumage is much more pro- 

 nounced. 



The Chiffchaff may be distinguished from the Willow-Wren by 

 its smaller size, duller hue, darker legs, and more rounded wing. 

 The 2nd quill is equal in length to the 7th, and the outer webs are 

 sloped off, or emarginated, up to the 6th inclusive. In the Willow- 

 Wren this emargination only reaches to the 5th, and the 2nd is 

 equal in length to the 6th quill. 



