300 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Upper-parts darker than juvenile Willow-Warbler, throat and 

 breast more smoky, belly whiter and less yellow, axillaries deeper 

 yellow.) 



First winter. Like adult and not to be distinguished. The 

 juvenile body-feathers and wing-coverts are moulted Aug.-Sept., 

 but not primary-coverts nor wing- or tail-feathers, and apparently 

 not outer greater coverts. 



Measurements and structure. <$ wing 56-63 mm., tail 47-52, 

 tarsus 19-21, bill from skull 9.5-11 (20 measured). $ wing 52- 

 59. Primaries : 1st 5-9 mm. longer than longest primary -co vert, 

 3rd to 5th usually equal and longest but 3rd and 5th occasionally 

 1 shorter than 4th, 6th 1-3 shorter, 7th 4-6 shorter, 2nd usually 

 between 7th and 8th, occasionally as long as 7th or as short as 

 9th ; 3rd to 6th emarginated outer webs. Secondaries slightly 

 shorter than 10th primary, tips rounded. Tail nearly square, 

 each feather sloped off on inner web. Bill fine. A good many 

 very fine rictal bristles. Nostrils partially covered with short 

 feathers. Tarsal joint feathered. 



Soft parts. Bill blackish-brown, yellowish -brown at base of 

 lower mandible ; legs and feet dark brown ; iris dark brown. 



CHARACTERS AND ALLIED FORMS. For differences of Ph. c. 

 abietinus and tristis see under those forms. Ph. c. canariensis 

 (western Canary Is.) is smaller, darker on upper -parts and browner 

 on under-parts, Ph. c. exsul (eastern Canary Is.) is still smaller 

 but paler than last, Ph. c. sindianus is like Ph. c. tristis but is 

 smaller and has no green on wings. Both forms of Ph. t. trochilus 

 have 2nd primary not shorter than 6th instead of equal to or 

 shorter than 7th, and only 3rd to 5th emarginated instead of 3rd 

 to 6th as in Ph. collybita. Ph. sibilatrix has longer wing and much 

 shorter 1st primary. 



FIELD-CHARACTERS. Different species of Phylloscopus are much 

 alike in form and colour, and are recognizable in the field rather 

 by their notes and habits than their appearance. Chiffchaff 

 closely resembles Willow-Warbler, but is rather smaller, duller 

 in hue, and has blackish legs. Unmistakable song, "Chiff-chaff, 

 chiff-chaff, chiff, chiff-chaff, chiff," is often uttered from top of high 

 tree and is sometimes prefaced by low cricket-like chirp, " tiddy 

 tiddy." Alarm-note, a plaintive " hoo-id " is almost identical 

 with that of Willow-Warbler. 



BREEDING-HABITS. Generally nests at some little height from 

 ground, and quite exceptionally touching it, in clumps of brambles 

 in woods or low bushes ; and also among thick branches of yews, 

 hollies, etc., also sometimes among ivy on walls. Nest. Roughly 

 spherical in shape, with a shallow side entrance : more loosely 

 built than Willow-Warbler's, and usually with dead leaves as 

 foundation, and built of moss, stalks, etc., with thick lining of 



