2i8 PERSONALITY IN BIRDS 



chief of these, from our present point of view, 

 lies in their songs. These are so different in 

 themselves and delivered in ways so different, 

 that it would not be possible to select a similar 

 number of British birds so closely allied in most 

 respects, yet so dissimilar in respect of their 

 songs. Although all ground-nesters feeding upon 

 the same kinds of food, they may in a general 

 way be said to inhabit different stories in their house 

 of life. The Chiffchaff moves nearest to earth, 

 uttering a perfunctory "chiff! chaff!" as he slips from 

 twig to twig about the lower growth. He has the 

 family stoop of the Leaf-searchers, but brings with 

 him a slightly supercilious air that is his own. 

 " Chiff! chaff!" he says curtly, as he bends forward 

 on the bough, looking right and left for something 

 that appears never to be present " chiff! chaff T- 

 life's a bore when it's a hunt for food with never a 

 song. 



His melodious cousin, the Willow-wren often 

 enough meets him by the way, though as a rule he 

 ranges higher in the trees. Whether we consider 

 the frail and dainty person of the Willow-wren, its 

 gentle air, or its song, there is only one word that 

 fitly and entirely covers its very distinct personality- 

 it is just sweet. I do not use the word conventionally : 

 those who know this bird intimately will recognise 

 that there is no other of our birds to which this 

 epithet could be applied so entirely without qualifi- 

 cation. If anything must be added, it is just a shadow 

 of wistfulness in the last, dying notes of its song ; 

 in the slight diffidence of the bird's first approach ; 

 in the questioning glance of its eye. A wild bird's 



