BEITISH WARBLERS 



The moulting period extends from the middle of August 

 until the end of September, but they do not all moult at the 

 same time; some have assumed their winter plumage by the 

 beginning f September, while others do not do so until the 

 latter part of that month. 



During the autumn they can be easily watched in the 

 elder-bushes, where, attracted by the berries, they collect, 

 and spend the first few hours of the morning, and probably 

 the greater part of the day. When possible it is best to 

 conceal oneself, while yet dark, in the bushes that are known 

 to be frequented: the birds then collect naturally, and are 

 often completely unaware of one's presence. There is at this 

 time of year a very marked change in their temperament ; 

 a reaction has set in; the tendency towards extreme excita- 

 bility, which was the leading characteristic of both sexes, but 

 of the males especially, during the spring and early summer, 

 has disappeared, and we now find sober-minded individuals, 

 prone to a certain amount of playfulness, but apparently 

 more contented when preening their feathers, resting, or 

 feeding. Their games at this period, if they are games, are 

 not very interesting to watch and seem to lack vigour ; they 

 more often take the form of a scolding match. When three 

 take part there is considerable commotion, but often two fly 

 at, and simply pass by each other without actually fighting. 

 The males, while resting, sing very quietly a song which is 

 scarcely audible twenty yards away, but they do occasionally 

 break out into louder strains, which are very poor compared 

 with those in spring. The quiet song is much the prettier. 

 During the performance the throat is considerably distended, 

 but the effort to produce the sound is apparently not very 

 great. If it were not for the mist and the smell of decaying 

 vegetation it would be easy, when listening to this song, to 

 imagine oneself back again in spring. I have sometimes seen 

 two males, comparatively near, answering one another ; while 

 the one was singing the other would turn his head sideways, 

 listening intently, and when the first one had finished, would 

 immediately commence to repeat the strain. But this quiet 



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