BEHAVIOUR OF RESIDENT MALES 29 



ground where the Juncus communis grows in 

 abundance, to the dense masses of the common 

 reed {Arundo phragmites), and such like places. 

 During the winter, the male's routine of exist- 

 ence is of a somewhat monotonous order, limited 

 to the necessary search for food during the few 

 short hours of daylight and enforced inactivity 

 during the longer hours of darkness. But 

 towards the middle of February a distinct 

 change manifests itself in the bird's behaviour. 

 Observe what then happens. When they leave 

 the reed-bed in the morning, instead of flying 

 with their companions to the accustomed feeding 

 grounds, the males isolate themselves and scatter 

 in different directions. The purpose of their 

 behaviour is not, however, to find fresh feeding 

 grounds, nor even to search for food as they 

 have been wont to do, but rather to discover 

 stations suitable for the purpose of breeding ; 

 and, having done so, each male behaves in a 

 like manner — it selects some willow, alder, or 

 prominent reed, and, perching thereon, leads 

 a quiet life, singing or preening its feathers. 

 Now if the movements of one particular male 

 are kept in view, it will be noticed that only 

 part of its time is spent in its territory. At 

 intervals it disappears. I do not mean that one 

 merely loses sight of it, but that it actually 

 deserts its territory. As if seized with a sudden 

 impulse it rises into the air and flies away, often 

 for a considerable distance and often in the same 

 direction, and is absent for a period which may 

 vary in length from a few minutes to an hour 



