BRITISH WARBLERS 



and I regret this, for even a slight acquaintance is sufficient 

 to show that the species stands high in the scale of emotional 

 development. 



In England the bird inhabits wide stretches of common 

 land where heather and gorse grow in profusion, the favourite 

 resort of Stonechat and Meadow Pipit. It is the only warbler 

 that stays with us throughout the year, but whether it remains 

 in family parties or in pairs during the winter, or whether it 

 pairs for life, I am unable to say. Towards the end of 

 February they can be seen in couples, male and female 

 together, and their behaviour seems to show that they are 

 then paired. One can observe the different pairs in the same 

 position day after day, and there is little doubt that they own 

 territories after the manner of other species. For the size of 

 the bird the territories are large, some 250 square yards or so 

 in extent, but it is by no means easy to follow the same pair 

 for a long period, since they move rapidly from place to place 

 and diving into the thickest parts of the heather and gorse 

 are soon lost to sight. Where a number of different pairs 

 occupy adjoining territories there is evidence of much 

 emotional reaction on the part of the males, the meaning 

 of which is not easy to determine in the absence of daily 

 records of the whole period of sexual activity, but the question 

 of territory seems to dominate the situation. Each day one 

 witnesses a more or less similar routine. For periods of 

 varying lengths neither song nor call-note can be heard nor 

 manifestation of excitement seen. But suddenly a change 

 comes over the scene, the birds move restlessly about their 

 respective territories, males come into contact with one 

 another, and we then have the conditions which lead up to 

 an emotional situation. I found these emotional scenes of 

 frequent occurrence at the latter end of February and during 

 the first few days of March, and yet the majority of the males 

 affected seemed to be paired. One or two females were 

 sometimes close at hand, but there was often no visible sign 

 of their presence, and I have no reason to believe that the 



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