23 

 Case 167. 



CHIFF-CHAFF {Phylloscopus rufus). 

 Local name : Peggy. 



The Chiff-Chaff is a rather rare summer visitor to our local area, 

 and is more numerous in some parts of Britain than in others. Its 

 food consists of insects and grubs. The Chiff-Chaff arrives in March, 

 and migrates about September. It nests late in May or early in June, 

 and lays from five to seven eggs (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 

 2) of two distinct types of colouration. It builds a domed nest like 

 the Willow Wren, but no moss is used for lining as in the nest of the 

 latter. The ChifE-Chaff differs from the Willow Warbler and the 

 Wood Warbler by its rounded wing, the second quill being of the same 

 length as the sixth ; and also by its dark feet. 



Case 1 68. 



WILLOW WARBLER or WILLOW WREN [Phylloscofus trochilus). 

 Local names : Peggy Whitethroat, White Wren, White Robin. 



The Willow Warbler is one of the commonest birds of the woods 

 and orchards of our local area, as it is of most parts of Britain. It 

 arrives in April from its winter home in Africa, and migrates again in 

 Autumn. The Willow Warbler feeds on insects. It builds such a nest 

 as is here shown, usually in May, and lays from five to eight reddish- 

 spotted eggs (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 2). The Willow 

 Warbler is distinguished from the Wood Warbler (which it closely 

 resembles), by its smaller size and duller colour ; and also from the 

 ChilT-Chaff by having a pointed wing (whose third and fourth quills 

 are the longest) instead of a rounded one. 



Case 1 69. 



COMMON ROBIN or REDBREAST {Erithacus rubecula). 



The Robin resides the year through in all parts of our local area ; 

 ranging also throughout the rest of Britain. In autumn, numbers 

 migrate from one part of the country to another only, while others 

 cross to the Continent, returning again in the spring to their usual 

 haunts. The Robin builds in April and May, laying from five to eight 

 eggs which vary considerably both in ground colour and markings 

 (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawers 1 and 7). The location of the 

 nest is very varied, and although a hole in a bank is the site generally 

 adopted, it frequently uses disused tin cans (as here seen) as a shelter. 

 The Cuckoo often deposits its egg in the Robin's nest. It is interesting 

 to note that the plumage of the nestlings differs from that of the parents, 

 which it will fully resemble only after the first autumn moult, except 

 in the tips of the middle wing coverts, which remain buff till the 

 following spring. 



