438 SYLVIID.E. 



good service in devouring those destructive insects. If the 

 weather is fine and mild, it may be seen among the most 

 forward trees, flying from branch to branch, chasing its 

 fellows, and catching the gnats and small flies that come 

 in its way. In the summer it feeds on the Aphides which 

 infest trees and plants, and it is also very partial to small 

 caterpillars, flies, and moths, to obtain which it visits 

 gardens and orchards, thereby incurring the unfounded 

 charge of eating their produce. 



This bird frequents shady woods or groves, particularly 

 those of older growth. Like the Wood- Wren, it is very local, 

 but the distribution of each species, as may be seen by the 

 account here given, is somewhat dissimilar. The two notes of 

 the Chiffchaff are almost unceasingly delivered throughout the 

 whole day from the branch of a tall tree, but, though only 

 uttered by the cock, and in some places contributing largely 

 to " the untaught harmony of spring," they hardly rise to 

 the dignity of a song, and there is another fact which seems 

 to preclude their being so considered. Most birds, and the 

 Warblers especially, excepting perhaps the Lesser White- 

 throat, become mute so soon as their eggs are hatched ; but 

 this is not the case with the Chiffchaff, which continues 

 its unvarying double-note throughout the summer, hardly 

 affected by the cares induced by its young family. Towards 

 autumn however this double-note changes in tone, and, 

 though nearly as incessant as before, wants the gaiety which 

 characterizes its earlier utterance. It has been frequently 

 syllabled " chip-chop," " chivy-chavy," or " choice-and- 

 cheap," according to the fancy of the listener, who commonly 

 bestows on the performer a name in accordance with his 

 own rendering of the sound. 



The nest is very like that of the Willow- Wren, oval and 

 domed, with a hole in the side by which the bird enters. 

 The outside is composed of dried grass, dead leaves and 

 moss, and it is lined with a profusion of feathers. It is 

 generally placed on or near the ground in a hedgebank, 

 sometimes raised a little above the surface in a low bush. 

 Mr. Henry Doubleday sent me notice of one, which he 



