76 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



sembling crah, crah, or cruh, reminding one of 

 tlie harsh tones of the Reedlings. 



The Scotch have an okl proverb respecting 

 small people, — *' Little folks are soon angiy, their 

 heart's near to their mou' ;" and it might be quoted 

 in relation to this tiny bird, which is of a most 

 quaiTclsome disposition, even daring to attack 

 birds much larger than itself. The writer just 

 alluded to, remarks, " Last spring I was walking 

 under some tall elms, from the top of which a 

 chiff-chaff was, at intervals, repeating his double 

 cry. A large common, overspread witli furze, lay 

 in one direction, while thoiLsands of the song 

 petty-chaps were warbling merrily. At length 

 one of these settled on a bush close under the 

 trees, and began to sing ; whereupon down came 

 the little chitf-chalf from above, and I witnessed 

 a long-sustained battle betsveen the two, both 

 warbling their diverse notes in defiance, and by 

 turns attacking and pursuing each other. Each 

 indeed seemed to consider the other an antagonist 

 of its own species, for it is seldom that different 

 species quaiTcl, though a few will drive away all 

 intruders from their abode." This writer adds 

 that there are, however, several aUied species. 



