CHIFF-CHAFF. 95 



This hardy little bird is one of the first to arrive on 

 our shores in the early spring ; it usually makes its 

 appearance in the neighbourhood of Dublin before the 

 end of March. It seems strange that so small a bird 

 should visit our shores at a time in which in most years 

 winter still lingers ; it is not improbable, however, that 

 some members of this species do not leave the British 

 Isles at all, but remain in the southern parts of England 

 until the first dawnings of the spring. A few birds of 

 this species have thus been noticed in Cornwall ; and 

 Mr. Dresser states that in January, 1872, he heard the 

 well-known notes of the Chiff-chaff in the grounds 

 surrounding the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. 



If a few remain with us all the year round, however, 

 there still can be no doubt that the Chiff-chaff is strictly 

 a summer migrant, and that it is possessed of powers of 

 endurance of cold and hardship which seem wonderful 

 in so small and apparently fragile a bird. 



In Ireland the song of the Chiff-chaff is one of the 

 earliest harbingers of summer days ; and my good 

 friend, Sir Robert Ball, when Astronomer Royal of 

 Ireland, was wont to mark it by the presentation to a 

 young friend in the neighbourhood of a book with the 

 date of its occurrence inscribed as " Chiff-chaff Day." 



The notes from which this bird derives its name really 

 constitute its song ; they are usually interpreted as 

 "chiff chaff, chiff chaff;" but many variations may be 

 noted. At times it is "chiff chaff, chaff chaff;" at 

 others, "chiff chaff, cherry, churry." Mr. Ussher thinks 

 that the parting song of the Chiff-chaff in September is 

 " cheef, cheef," without the "chaff." Some think it more 

 like "chink, chank ;" whilst in Normandy the bird is 



