BEHAVIOUR OF RESIDENT MALES 31 



rising into the air and flying in one fixed 

 direction as far as the eye can follow, until 

 it becomes a speck upon the horizon and is 

 ultimately lost to view. During these excursions 

 it rejoins the small composite flocks which still 

 frequent the fields and farm buildings. For a 

 time the hedgerow is deserted and the bird 

 remains with its companions. But one does not 

 have to wait long for the return ; it reappears 

 as suddenly as it vanished, flying straight back 

 to the few acres which constitute its territory, 

 back even to the same gate-post or railing, 

 where it again sings. This simple routine may 

 be repeated quite a number of times during the 

 first two hours or so of daylight, with, of course, 

 a certain amount of variation ; on one occasion 

 the bird may be away for a few minutes only, 

 on another for perhaps half an hour, whilst 

 sometimes it will fly for a few hundred yards, 

 hesitate, and then return — all of which shows 

 clearly enough that these few acres possess 

 some peculiar significance and are capable of 

 exercising a powerful influence upon the course 

 of its behaviour. And so the disposition in 

 relation to the territory becomes dominant in 

 the life of the bird. 



Or take the case of the Chaffinch. In 

 winter large or small flocks can be found in 

 many varied situations. But in the latter part 

 of February, or the early days of March, these 

 flocks begin to disperse. At daylight males 

 can then be observed in all kinds of situations, 

 either calling loudly, uttering their spring note. 



