64 THE WARBLERS 



and each proceeds at once to occupy the area, no doubt the same 

 as the previous year, in which its nest is to be built. This it holds 

 against all comers, driving out trespassers with fury, even though 

 they be its grown-up offspring. Fights are frequent. Rival chiff- 

 chaffs have been seen approaching each other, with jerking wings 

 and outspread tail, with excited hurried hops from twig to twig, each 

 uttering, by way of defiance, little squeaks enforced by throaty rattling 

 noises. If neither is to be alarmed into flight by mere menace, they 

 close, tumbling one over the other in the air or on the ground, their 

 bills clicking loudly. 1 Disputes between pairs in adjacent areas may 

 of course continue through the breeding season, for, as already pointed 

 out in connection with the winter-estates of the robin, the boundaries 

 that satisfy one pair do not necessarily satisfy its neighbours. Objec- 

 tion is taken not only to trespass by individuals of the same species, 

 but frequently to that of others. I have seen (May 5) a willow-wren 

 perched on a twig, with its tail erect, slowly wave its wings, as if 

 trying to dry them, quite a different movement from the rapid 

 jerks of the chiff chaff and then, having in this peculiar fashion 

 signified its determination to begin, dart upon a whitethroat and seek 

 to drive it away. Both the willow-wren and chiffchaff, and no doubt 

 also the wood-wren, will not hesitate to attack species much larger 

 than themselves. If, however, the big bird chooses to take the attack 

 seriously, and turns, then the vigour of the small assailant's onslaught 

 will often be surpassed by the precipitation of its retreat. 



All three species have elaborate love displays, but so far only 

 those of the chiffchaff have been recorded in any detail. 2 The cock of 

 this species may be seen following his mate with quivering wings, 

 and protesting his love in notes that have been likened to "buzzing." 

 He follows, buzzes, and makes a dart. But the lady who, meanwhile, 

 with like quivering wings, has been encouraging him in loud, unceas- 

 ing, plaintive notes, now becomes all discretion, " You dare, sir ! Well, 



1 H. E. Howard, British Warblers, Part n. This work contains the only complete studies 

 of some of our Summer Warblers that exist, which are models of close observation. 



2 By H. E. Howard, op. cit. 



