CHIFF-CHAFF 
his wines and spreads out his tail, hops hurriedly from branch 
to branch, all the while uttering a curious squeaking note 
ending with a rattling noise in his throat; then, suddenly 
starting off in pursuit, he darts in and out of the trees, singing 
hurriedly as he flies, and on coming up to his rival seizes him, 
and they both tumble over and over in the air or on the 
eround. Sometimes, however, changing his mind in the 
middle of the pursuit, he turns suddenly in the air and returns 
quietly to his territory. ‘To notice his behaviour towards 
other species who trespass in the same manner is interesting. 
I have seen a territory invaded by a family of Blue Tits 
numbering eight or nine; these Blue Tits passed the same 
way on their travels for three consecutive mornings almost 
at the same time. This seemed to be a grievance and a 
source of real annoyance to this particular male, but he was 
evidently afraid of their numbers. Darting about, he would 
spread his tail and rapidly jerk his wings, now and again 
chasing an isolated member of the family in a half-hearted 
sort of way, sometimes even venting his anger on a solitary 
Whitethroat, but finally, leaving the Tits in possession, he 
would retire to the other end of his territory, from whence 
he would only return after they had departed. 
On the approach of a Hawk he will sometimes fly out 
of the tree he is in, beating the air very slowly with his 
wings, hanging his legs down, and uttering his high, squeaking 
note; his behaviour being in every way similar to that during 
courtship. He keeps, in fact, a very close watch on all birds 
that pass near him, frequently chasing Cuckoos (Cucwlus 
canorus) determinedly away, and even if he gets a glimpse 
through the foliage of a bird passing above him he starts off 
in pursuit. But he is not so bold as he at first sight appears, 
for should the stranger, resenting his pursuit, turn and face 
him he immediately retires. 
During incubation the female leaves her nest as little as 
possible, and evidently has regular times for so doing; 
frequently between 5.30 and 6.30 in the morning. 
19 
