BRITISH WARBLERS 



When fully grown the young ones are soon taught to find 

 food for themselves. They follow their parents amongst the 

 bushes and undergrowth, each being fed in turn, but occa- 

 sionally taking the trouble to pick off a few aphides for them- 

 selves, giving one the impression that they prefer to be lazy as 

 long as possible. Their difficulty no doubt lies in their want 

 of experience, and consequent lack of power to distinguish 

 between what is food and what is not; thus, even when they 

 have left their parents, I have seen them in doubt trying to 

 swallow the ragged ends of a broken twig. They are very 

 playful at this age, their games sometimes taking the form of 

 a tilting match. Three take part, two sit on convenient twigs 

 facing one another, and the third from his central position 

 might almost be called an umpire. Numbers one and two 

 then lower their heads, each in anticipation of the other 

 moving ; one of them, call him number one, then springs into 

 the air, and darts at number two; number two dodges and 

 occupies the position vacated by number one, each of them 

 then face round ready to continue the fray, the change of 

 positions becoming quite rapid. 



Although I have never found a second brood, yet I think 

 it probable that two are sometimes reared, for this reason, 

 that some of the males in July indulge in a second court- 

 ship. When a female is present the male will spread out 

 his wings and tail, and walk sideways up and down a branch, 

 the female for her part also spreading out her wings and tail, 

 but not moving up and down the branch. After perform- 

 ing thus for a short time she will fly off, pursued by the 

 male, calling to him with her low quiet note if he does 

 not immediately follow. Sometimes two or three males join 

 in the pursuit, apparently for the fun of the thing and the 

 annoyance of the real lover. 



It will be seen that this courtship is really identical with 

 that performed in spring, and is therefore somewhat of a 

 mystery, the more so as it is not indulged in by all males, for 



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