32 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



CHIFF-CHAFF. 



Case 42. 



The Chiff- chaff is usually the first of the warblers to 

 visit us in the spring. It spreads over the greater 

 part of the country, and is said to he observed fre- 

 quently in the north of Scotland. 



As many writers have recorded this fact it is pro- 

 bably correct, but I have myself been unable to detect 

 any in the Highlands, though the Willow Wren and 

 Wood Wren are particularly numerous even in the 

 wildest glens. 



The eggs of these three small species of Leaf 

 Warblers (as they are styled by some authors) are 

 much more easily distinguished than the birds them- 

 selves. 



That of the Willow Warbler is, like the others, of a 

 pinkish white ground, strongly blotched with red spots 

 towards the longer end. The markings on the egg of 

 the Chiff-chaff are of a claret colour, while the egg of 

 the Wood Wren is thickly speckled with warm brown. 



The specimens in the case were obtained near 

 Plumpton, in Sussex, in April, 1867. 



SPARROW HAWK. 

 Case 43. 



I am afraid this Hawk has many enemies and but 

 few friends. Those who take an interest in falconry 

 often put in a plea for that still greater robber, the 

 Peregrine ; but I never yet heard a word spoken in 

 defence of the poor Sparrow Hawk. 



