THE CHIFF-CHAFF. 3! 



of seeing and hearing this little bird in Holland, 

 and can testify to the power and variety of its 

 song. Frequently I contrived to get within a 

 few feet of it, and could almost see the notes as 

 they poured out of its tiny throat. The eggs 

 when fresh are the most lovely imaginable, being 

 of a bright pink with dark purple spots, scattered 

 chiefly at the larger end. The nest, as I have 

 already hinted, is cup-shaped, and placed at a 

 little height from the ground ; the bird in this 

 respect departing from the usual habit of the 

 Willow Warblers. 



These notes being intended rather as sugges- 

 tions for those who desire to know a little about 

 our summer birds, than as a condensed history 

 of the species, I may observe, in concluding 

 this chapter, that those who are anxious to glean 

 further particulars about the Willow Warblers 

 and their allies, will do well to consult an 

 excellent article on the subject by Professor 

 Schlegel, published (in French) in 1851 in the 

 " Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society 

 of Amsterdam." 



