6 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



coyly she receives his advances ! No two birds 

 pay court the same ; each love-making has its 

 individual peculiarities, prompted by the little 

 reasoning mind behind the feathers. Jealousy is 

 rife even in such a tiny creature, and he will fight 

 furiously with any rival male that intrudes upon 

 his lady-love or seeks to alienate her affections. 

 Then, the wedding over, we may watch the Chiff- 

 chaffs searching out a site for their nest. In and 

 out of the wires and heather stems, up and down 

 the alder bushes, amongst the bluebells and the 

 polypoddies, every nook is surveyed, and its 

 advantages discussed, until the mutual choice is 

 made at last. Next comes the building of the 

 nest ; memory, imitation, and reason each playing 

 an important part in the course of its construction. 

 The merry little male goes out to seek for grass 

 and moss and feathers, pausing every now and 

 then to sing his simple song, and bringing them 

 bit by bit to his mate, who does the greater part 

 of the building. Gradually the home is made, a 

 beautiful example of bird architecture, half-domed, 

 and snugly hidden away behind a cluster of fern 

 and heath and grass below a birch tree on the 

 hillside. Day after day goes by ; the cock-bird 

 sings more joyously than ever ; there is true love 

 in this old Yorkshire coppice, and where there is 

 that there is happiness. Their home has been 

 finished this three days ; and now the pearly eggs 

 are laid morning after morning until six of the 

 precious speckled treasures take up the greater 



