134 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 



warbler, last noticed : both these species, therefore, 

 may be added to White's list of " Birds that Sing as 

 they fly," * and which he states to be but " few." 



CHIFF-CHAFF.f 



THIS species, which is found in tolerable plenty 

 in most parts of England, is of very uncertain ap- 

 pearance in this neighbourhood: in some seasons 

 not a single individual is seen, whilst in others they 

 are abundant. It is a restless and active bird, and 

 seems much attached to spruce-firs and other tall 

 trees, from the tops of which it issues its incessant 

 but monotonous song, consisting of only two loud 

 piercing notes ; which it continues throughout the 

 summer, and sometimes even till late in September. 

 It is most frequently heard here in the early spring, 

 and then again in the autumn ; which inclines me 

 to think, as in the case of the wood-warbler above 

 mentioned, that it does not generally breed with us, 

 but merely stops here in its passage to and from other 

 districts. 



The chiff-chaff, in general, is only heard to utter 

 the two loud notes above alluded to, which have 

 gained for it its well-known name. In July, how- 

 ever, of last year (1845), I heard an individual 

 varying its monotonous song, at intervals, with a kind 

 of shrill whistle, repeated two or three times in suc- 

 cession. This whistling note was quite new to me, 

 and such as I had never heard before from this 



* Nat. Hist. ofSelborne, Lett. II. to D. Harrington, 

 f Sylvia hippolais, Selb. 



