122 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



two or more males around one female, to whom 

 they are paying addresses, and from whom they 

 often receive more pecks than call-notes. Indeed, 

 she threatens them all the time. Finally, she is 

 left with only one attendant, who hops around her, 

 and is chased by her, apparently with much satis- 

 faction to himself. When male sparrows fight 

 they are generally quiet and earnest, until one gets 

 hold of the other firmly, when some screaming 

 may be heard. 



Many species give the full song during combat. 

 I have heard the full song of the tree-pipit given 

 by one furiously attacking another. When first 

 seen the birds were fighting in flight. They fell 

 to the ground together ; and in this position and 

 when I was not more than two yards distant, the 

 song was given, including the final long-drawn 

 " whee whee whee," which is generally given when 

 the bird is descending on outstretched motionless 

 wings, and never from a perch. 



The wagtails, when driving rival trespassers 

 from their favourite spots, utter what seem to be 

 the ordinary notes ; and the same thing happens 

 with the lark. The latter, however, sometimes 



