OCHIFF-CHAFF 
very rapid flight, and chasing him often for some distance 
beyond the confines of his territory. ‘The interesting part is 
that the new arrival does not always retaliate, but accepts the 
situation, as if instinctively conscious that in thus trespassing 
he was sinning against the unalterable laws of the species. 
These territories are sometimes curiously situated. I 
remember one in which there was a space of about two 
hundred yards of bare ground between two small coppices, 
both of which were included by a particular male in his 
territory; thus he was continually flying backwards and for- 
wards. At one end a sycamore tree (Acer pseudo-platanus) 
conveniently placed supplied him with food, for numerous 
Chironomide clustered under the leaves, which were some- 
what early developed; here he was quite happy hunting and 
singing for ten minutes or so, then, suddenly darting off, 
he would rise to a considerable height in the air and make 
straight for the opposite coppice, returning again shortly in 
the same manner. 
In the early part of the season the difficulty of obtaining 
food is, no doubt, the dominant factor of his movements; 
he can then often be seen searching the low holly-bushes, 
examining the undersides of the leaves very carefully, and 
a close inspection of these leaves will reveal the Chironomide, 
not in any great, but quite appreciable, numbers. These 
small flies are evidently the cause of his great activity, but, 
compared to their numbers a month later, they are few and 
far between, and for this reason he examines certain trees 
much more minutely than others, as, for instance, solitary 
larch (Larix Huropea), the hollies Ulex aquifolium), some 
species of willow (Salix) that grow by the waterside, and 
especially small patches of sprouting hawthorn (Crategus 
oxyacantha). . 
Until the trees are in leaf he roosts in any conveniently 
warm spot, such as clumps of ivy, thick bramble, &c., retiring 
to his quarters soon after sunset. When actually roost- 
ing he is fearless and not easily disturbed. I have thus 
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