WOOD WARBLER 



and again goes in search of more as if the completion 

 of the nest were a matter of urgent importance. Then she 

 ceases as suddenly as she commenced and for a while neglects 

 her responsibilities. The periods of activity recur at intervals 

 until the nest is completed some four or five days after the 

 foundation is laid, the intermediate time being spent with her 

 mate either in searching for food or in those mutual pursuits 

 and gambols which are probably sexual in origin. When she 

 is actually engaged in her work, the male is usually close at 

 hand uttering his call note or watching her movements from 

 a distance of a few yards only. The nest is similar in type to 

 that of the Chiff-chaff or Willow Warbler, and, as a rule, is 

 well concealed in a wooded bank or in some hollow in the 

 ground. It is oval in shape and constructed principally of 

 decayed grasses and leaves, the foundation and exterior being 

 composed of coarse bladed grass with an admixture of dead 

 leaves and the interior of a finer grass which at the same 

 time constitutes the lining. Amongst the decayed vegetable 

 matter which is utilised we again meet with the bark of 

 the honeysuckle. This bark, as I explained in the life of 

 the Willow Warbler, peels away from the wood of itself and 

 hangs from the branch in long strands which are readily 

 obtained by the bird. So that these three species, the Chiff- 

 chaff, Willow, and Wood Warbler, make use of it for a 

 similar purpose. Some remarks concerning this habit and 

 a confession of ignorance as to its interpretation will be 

 found in the life of the Willow Warbler. Comparing the 

 nest of the Wood Warbler with that of the Chiff-chaff: or 

 Willow Warbler we find that there is one essential point in 

 which it differs from theirs, namely, in the lining, which is of 

 fine grass instead of feathers; a detail of minor importance 

 some may say, but all details appear to be of minor importance 

 until we attempt to explain them. When we consider that 

 the environment of the Wood and Willow Warbler is similar, 

 the position of their nest similar and the shape and material 

 of which it is composed similar, while only the lining is 



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