BRITISH WARBLERS 



LIFE HISTORY. 



The Wood Warbler reaches Worcestershire considerably 

 later than either the Willow Warbler or the Chiff-chaff, and 

 it is of little use searching for the bird in that county before 

 the last week in April, or, in some seasons, the first week in 

 May. Mr. Eagle Clarke gives April 12th as the usual date of 

 the first arrival in England, and April 25th in Scotland, the 

 latter date being approximately the date of the first arrivals 

 in Worcestershire. The period of arrival is spread over some 

 weeks, just as it is in the case of other migrants ; the woods 

 which the birds are accustomed to inhabit do not suddenly 

 become occupied by these little travellers, but are slowly filled, 

 first in one corner, and then in another. The females com- 

 mence to arrive a week or ten days after the first males, and 

 they too come by slow degrees, this male receiving a partner 

 to-day, that one to-morrow, and so on for a week or perhaps 

 a fortnight. 



As its name suggests, the Wood Warbler is a true 

 occupant of woods, and whether such woods are large or small 

 matters but little so long as the environment is in other ways 

 suitable. . Wooded banks or hills, such as are found in many 

 parts of Wales, seem to be a favourite breeding resort, although 

 woods which have nothing undulatory about them are also 

 frequented. The bird is often spoken of as being especially 

 fond of oak and beech woods, which is true enough in its way, 

 but it is not so much a question of the kind of tree as of the 

 nature of the ground beneath. Thick tangled undergrowth is 

 clearly unsuitable so far as its nesting requirements are con- 

 cerned, and that, I take it, is the reason of its partiality for 

 oak or beech woods, since the undergrowth is there generally 

 scanty, the ground being carpeted with nothing but moss and 

 decayed leaves. Those who read the history of the Willow 

 Warbler may perhaps remember that this question of environ- 

 ment was alluded to, and some remarks added on the probable 

 effect of the felling of timber or the destruction otherwise of 

 a breeding station. I had an interesting experience with 



4 



