WILLOW- WARBLER, WOOD-WARBLER, CHIFFCHAFF 65 



take that and that." And he retaliates. There is a mimic combat, just 

 clicks of the beaks, and nothing more, corresponding to the playful 

 slaps of Mary-Jane and the sportive digs of John. But the cock is 

 not content merely to buzz and quiver his wings. He can do better. 

 In moments of intense feeling he will set himself in a very upright 

 position on some convenient perch, droop his wings, erect the feathers 

 on head and back and throat and breast, and so turn himself into a 

 little animated powder-puff. From the back of the powder-puff there 

 projects a wide-fanned tail, which is slowly moved, from side to side. 

 But though love makes the chiffchaff, like his human brother, strike 

 attitudes which are neither romantic nor even impressive in the eyes 

 of third parties, it has also power to transform him into a thing of 

 beauty. Such he appears when, either in silence or uttering love- 

 notes, he floats, a very elfin of the woods, in graceful curving flight, 

 on outspread, slowly moving wings to where his love is waiting and 

 calling. 



The wood-wren has a nuptial flight which its longer wings and 

 brighter hues make prettier even than that of the chiffchaff'. Some- 

 times it sings in flight, the slow movements of the wings seeming, as 

 it were, to beat time to its notes. No doubt the willow- wren is not 

 behind the other two in its displays, but full particulars as yet are 

 lacking. Like both, it also stands suppliant with quivering wings, 

 and, according to Bailly, 1 will move its tail from side to side after the 

 manner affected by the chiffchaff. But it appears to differ from the 

 latter in substituting for the rapid wing-jerks the waving motion 

 already described as being a preliminary to its combats. In the case 

 of both these species, as in the case of the robin and others, it will be 

 noted that certain actions are used to express both love and pugnacity. 



It may safely be assumed that these warblers pair for life, return- 

 ing each year to the same haunt. The displays indulged in are, 

 therefore, not courting actions in the strict sense, except in the case 

 of individuals that arrive uninated. Primarily, they are simply modes 



1 Ornitlwloffie de la Savoie, ii. 440. 

 VOL. II. I 



