80 DISPOSITION TO DEFEND THE TERRITORY 



different species from a few days to a fortnight 

 or even more. It is most marked in those that 

 return to their breeding grounds early in the 

 season, and the greater the margin of difference 

 the greater scope is there for observation. In 

 my records for the past twelve years, there are 

 frequent references to these initial male contests in 

 the life of the Willow- Warbler and of the Chiff- 

 chaff; and in the district which I have in mind, 

 these two species arrive early in the season, the 

 males preceding the females by a week or even 

 as much as a fortnight. Suppose, then, that two 

 Chiffchaffs establish themselves in adjoining 

 territories ; or suppose that a male settles in a 

 territory already occupied ; what is the result ? 

 Well, scenes of hostility soon become apparent ; 

 as the birds approach one another they become 

 more and more restive, their song ceases, they 

 no longer search for food in the usual methodical 

 manner, but instead their movements are hurried 

 and their call-notes are uttered rapidly all of 

 which betrays a heightened emotional tone. 

 Then the climax is reached, there is a momentary 

 fluttering of tiny wings, a clicking of bills, and 

 for the time being that may be all. But unless 

 one or other of the combatants retires, this scene 

 may be repeated many times in the course of a 

 few hours, and repeated with varying degrees of 

 severity. Yet the fighting, even in the most 

 extreme form, when the birds locked together 

 fall slowly to the ground, is seldom of an 

 impressive kind, and one has to bear in mind 

 the capabilities of the actors, remembering that 



