68 CHIFFCHAFF, 
Persia. In the Canary Islands a smaller form, P. fortwnatus of 
Canon Tristram, is resident. 
The nest of the Chiffchaff is usually placed near to, but a little 
above the ground, in rank vegetation or ferns ; occasionally in ivy 
against a wall, at an elevation of a couple of feet or so, while 
instances are on record in England of the nest having been found 
from three to nine feet up, in laurel, holly, bramble, and other 
bushes. In this country nidification begins about the end of April ; 
the oval domed nest, with a hole rather nearer the top than the 
middle, being composed of dry grass, leaves and moss, with an 
abundance of feathers as a lining. The eggs, commonly 6 in num- 
ber, are of a pure or creamy-white, spotted with purplish-brown, 
and sometimes with underlying blotches of violet-grey ; occasionally 
they are spotted with pale red: average measurements ‘6 by ‘45 in. 
A second brood is produced in June. The song,. if such it may 
be called, ends in May, to begin again in September, and by 
it the presence of the bird is often betrayed while the owner of the 
voice is invisible, for the Chiffchaff frequents the branches of loftier 
trees than the Willow-Wren does; groves of tall elms and larches 
being peculiarly attractive. Its food consists of insects and their 
larve. By October the autumn migration from our islands may be 
said to have terminated, except for those individuals which, as 
already stated, remain till December or even through the winter, 
and these, if severe weather sets in, pay the penalty for running 
such a risk. : 
Adult in spring :—olive-green on the upper parts, rather yellower 
on the rump; a pale yellow streak above the eye, passing into 
white behind the ear-coverts ; wing-coverts, quills and tail-feathers 
dull brown, edged with olive-green ; chin, throat, breast, belly and 
lower tail-coverts dull white, tinged with greenish-buff; under wing- 
coverts pale yellow; bill brown ; iris hazel; legs and feet very dark 
brown. Length 4°6 in. ; wing 2°35 in.; tarsus ‘6 in. The plumage 
is alike in both sexes. The young are slightly greener than the 
adults and the eye-streak is fainter. After the autumn moult the 
yellow tint in the plumage is much more pronounced. 
The Chiffchaff may be distinguished from the Willow-Wren by its 
smaller size, duller hue, darker legs, and more rounded wing. The 
2nd quill is equal in length to the 7th, and the outer webs are 
emarginated near their tips up to the 6th inclusive. In the Willow- 
Wren this emargination only reaches to the 5th, and the 2nd is equal 
in length to the 6th quill. 
