195 



THE CHIFF-CHAFF. 



Lesser Petty chaps. 



Sylvia rufa, Lath. 



„ /djjpolais, Venn, &c.* 



Is a regular summer visitant to certain localities from 

 south to north, 



It differs from the willow wren in being very partially, instead of 

 generally, distributed, a remark which applies not only to the island 

 at large, but to limited districts. Around Belfast — in the coun- 

 ties of Down and Antrim — this bird is known only as a regular 

 visitant to very few places. These (whether in the mountain 

 glen or demesne in the valley) are where there is abundance 

 of wood, and more especially where, in addition, cover from under- 

 wood prevails. This preference appears singular, as the chiff- 

 chaff generally frequents the higher trees. In other parts of these 

 counties, as among the beautiful plantations bordering the gently 

 flowing Main through Shane's Castle Park, I have met with it, as 

 my friend E. K. Sinclaire, Esq. ,has done, in the wooded glens about 

 Cushendall towards the north of Antrim ; and about Bryansford 

 and Rosstrevor, in Down, where the bases of the mountains are 

 well clothed with wood. At the Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, and 

 the Phcenix Park, Dublin, I have heard the notes of the chiff- 

 chaff, which is said to be a regular summer visitant to that quarter. 

 It is common in woods within two miles of Clonmel through the 



* The following note was published in my series of papers on the Birds of Ireland, 

 in 1838. " As a difference of opinion exists about this bird, (see note to White's Sel- 

 borne, pp. 80 et seq., ed. 1837) I had intended entering fully into the subject ; but 

 turning to the description of the species in the ' Manual of British Vertebrate Animals,' 

 p. 112, 1 find it to accord so well with my specimens, — which, being shot in the month 

 of April, when uttering their notes, may be considered adults, — as to render further ob- 

 servation unnecessary. The terms Syl. Hippolais, Lath., and chiff-chaff have been 

 correctly used as synonymous in the best British works. The original description in the 

 ' Index Ornithologicus ' (vol. ii. p. 507) iu a few words marks the species ; Temminck 

 however, in his valuable ' Manuel ' of the Birds of Europe, (part i. p. 222) has adopted 

 Latham's name for a continental Sylvia, very different from the one to which it was 

 applied by this author." June 15th, 1848: — The first individual of this species (S. 

 hippolais, Temm.), known to visit the British Islands, was killed at this date, at 

 Eyethorne, near Dover. Daily News. Athenaeum, July 29, 1848, p. 756, where 

 full particulars will be found. 



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