98 The Chiffchaff. 



opening; the thickest portion of the structure is at the top, probably with a view 

 to protection against rain ; the walls are formed of coarse dead grass-stems inter- 

 twined with dead blades of grass, plant-fibre, rootlets, dead as well as skeleton- 

 leaves and spiders' cocoons ; the inside is lined with fine rootlets, horsehair and 

 a number of feathers carefully smoothed down. The number of eggs varies from 

 five to seven, the former being the usual number; in colour they are pure white, 

 though when not blown the yolk gives them a pink tinge ; * they are more or 

 less dotted or spotted, as a rule, with deep chocolate or pitchy markings ; but 

 sometimes these spots are mixed with other larger ones of a sienna red colour, 

 with here and there a pale lavender shell spot. Sometimes the spots are chiefl}' 

 confined to the larger end, sometimes they form an unequal, oblique, and some- 

 what vague belt across the surface, often they are evenly scattered over the entire 

 egg ; but in spite of all these little modifications there is never the slightest 

 difficulty in recognizing, at a glance, the egg of the Chiffchaff, it is as character- 

 istic as that of the Lesser Whitethroat. 



The food of this species consists of many kinds of small insects, their larvse, 

 and of spiders : it also feeds on elder-berries and currants as soon as these are 

 ripe : it seeks its insect food chiefly in the trees, but does not scorn to snatch a 

 small beetle or spider from the ground, or to chase a gnat or fly in the air. Its 

 flight is very undulating and not specially rapid. 



The alarm-note is said to be a w/n'/ somewhat resembling that of the Willow- 

 Wren ; but is not this its call-note f and the other note tr-r-r (to which no title 

 has been applied) its alarm or scolding note ? 



In his " Birds of Norfolk," Mr. Stevenson states, on the authority of Messrs. 

 Gurney and Fisher, that a low bush, frequently of furze, appears to be a favourite 

 locality for the nest of this species and that as many as four have been found in 

 such places within a few yards. I never knew the nest to occupy such a site in 

 Kent, but birds appear to vary their habits greatly to suit their surroundings. 



I have not tried the Chiffchaff as an aviary bird ; but, unless it be intended 

 to breed it, when the furze-bush arrangement might be tried, I should hardl}' 

 think this species would pay for its keep : a few Willow- Warblers would be far 

 more pleasing in every way. On the other hand, there is no doubt that when 

 once accustomed to the usual soft food, the Chiffchaff would prove hardy enough 

 and its graceful actions would be pleasing, but I doubt if any human being could 



* Rkrs wliicb have been parlh- iuciibated lose their purity of colouring, becoming somewhat creamy ; 

 but this is not a peculiarity of the Chiffchaff alone; therefore to describe the egg as cream-coloured is not 

 strictlj- correct. 



t The little White-eyes f/.osleiops spp J, which always reuiinds me of the Willow-Wrcu on a small scale, 

 has'e a clear call-note —wheel. 



