CHIFF-CHAFF. 
125 
INSESSORES. 
DENTIROSTRES. SYLVIADJE. 
PLATE LXX. 
CHIFF-CHAFF. 
Sylvia hippolais. (Montagu.) 
The Chiff-chaff is an inhabitant of the woods, and ap¬ 
pears to prefer those whose trees are large and lofty ; es¬ 
pecially where oak, birch, and aspen trees grow on a sur¬ 
face covered with fern, grass, and other herbage. In very 
close woods, as of pine and other firs, where the ground is 
unclothed by vegetation on account of the dark and heavy 
foliage of the trees above, it is seldom found. In the spring 
this bird does not wander far from the spot it has chosen; 
but its singular note may frequently be heard in the same 
place, and usually appears to proceed from far above our 
heads. The little singer, on account of its elevation and of 
its small size, can seldom be seen, as the branches even of a 
leafless tree are sufficient to conceal it. It is a lively 
bird and continually in motion. Its note, although it can¬ 
not be called a song, is not altogether unmusical. It con¬ 
sists sometimes of only two notes, which have been likened 
to chiff-chaff! whence it has derived its name: but we have 
heard its cry frequently extended to three notes, each differ¬ 
ing from the other, as if it were chif-chef-chaf! ringing among 
the tops of the trees like the chime of little bells. 
Montagu speaks of this little bird as the hardiest and most 
generally diffused of all our summer visitors, and to be found 
VOL. ir. 
K 
