THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
brings this Warbler to the London area. March 16, 1906, 
is an exceptionally early record from Mitcham. ‘The migra- 
tion is stronger as April advances, and soon all the accus- 
tomedspotsare filled. ‘The return journey is equally a late 
one, and many examples of this species linger with us well 
into October. The bird soon proclaims its presence in a 
district by its monotonous so-called song, resembling the 
syllables chiff-chaff, which it utters with the greatest 
persistency at intervals the livelong day. Its general 
actions are very similar to those of its near ally the 
Willow Warbler, but the bird shows a more decided 
preference for trees, in this respect resembling its con- 
gener the Wood Warbler. It is an active, restless little 
bird, incessantly hopping about amongst the foliage, 
which it searches most industriously for its food. ‘This 
chiefly consists of insects and larve. Upon one occasion 
I was intently watching a Chiffchaff searching an apple- 
tree for aphides, picking them off the under surface of 
the leaves, when it suddenly flew to the window and tried 
to catch a house-fly creeping inside the glass. It was most 
amusing to watch the bird fluttering before the window- 
pane, making repeated pecks at the glass in its efforts to 
catch the fly. To the above fare are added many small 
fruits. Soon after its arrival the Chiffchaff may be seen 
in pairs, and the breeding season extends over April, 
May, and June. Although fond enough of resorting to. 
the higher branches, it generally selects a site upon the 
ground for its nest, or at most a few feet above it, amongst 
ivy on a wall, or in a tangle of brambles and briars. A 
favourite spot is amongst the meadow-grass or tall herbage 
on a bank. It is semi-domed, and made externally of 
moss, dry grass and leaves, lined with hair and feathers. 
The half-dozen eggs are white, sparsely spotted with dark 
reddish brown, paler brown, and grey. ‘The old birds are 
wary and secretive near the nest, and it is only by exer- 
cising great patience that one can induce them to betray 
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