CHIFF-CHAFF 
The migration of the females continues for about fourteen 
days, and this results in the nesting operations of certain 
pairs being temporarily in advance of those of others. In 
one case the courtship may be finished and the nest even 
built and lined ready to receive the eges, while another male 
close at hand may still be without a mate; but in this latter 
case, when the female does at last arrive, the courtship is 
quickly finished and the nest, as I shall mention later, more 
rapidly built. Much time is therefore gained, and it will 
be found, in consequence, that there is ultimately little varia- 
tion in the dates upon which the young of different pairs are 
hatched. 
On their arrival the females seem to prefer the bottoms 
of the hedgerows, thick undergrowth, or low positions of some 
description to the taller trees; itis difficult to see the reason 
for this, especially as it is only the case on their arrival, but 
it may, to some extent, facilitate the courtship, which is 
immediately commenced. 
As might be expected from such active and lively little 
creatures, the courtship is an exceedingly interesting and 
also a very beautiful one, and in order to see it at its best 
it must, as in the case of every bird, be watched during the 
first few hours of daylight; it may proceed to a limited 
extent during the daytime, but I have seen no sign of this, 
neither do I expect to do so, for all birds at this time of the 
year rest and are dull in the middle of the day, and although 
they become more active towards the evening, yet this 
activity cannot be compared with that which exists during 
the first few hours of daylight. . 
The female generally arrives during the night, and directly 
there is sufficient light the male in whose territory she has 
settled commences to court her. The duration of the court- 
ship varies to suit the needs of each particular case; on the 
one hand, a pair may be courting in the mornings for some 
days, and, on the other, the differences are quickly settled, 
and they apply themselves to the task of nidification. 
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