CHTFF-CHAFF 
sitting in a row, some facing one way, some another, evidently 
for warmth and comfort, since they are always most anxious 
to get as close to one another as possible. It is a pretty 
sight, and a most instructive one, to see the young following 
‘their parents, travelling from tree to tree, continually being 
supplied with food by the indefatigable mother; but they 
are more easily watched in gardens, which they frequently 
inhabit, searching the roses for the larve of different moths. 
The systematic way in which they travel through a rose- 
bed is interesting, and the number of larve they consume 
astonishing. They seem to look upon those insects as a 
special delicacy, and for this reason alone, if for no other, 
I consider them some of the best natural gardeners we have. 
The female is most pugnacious during this period when 
any common enemy approaches too closely, nor does this 
pugnacity decrease so long as her offspring are still under 
her care. When watching her on one occasion feeding 
her young, who were quite able to fly and thus escape any 
ordinary danger, I saw a Maissel-Thrush settle on a very 
tall elm tree some distance away and commence to jerk 
his tail and chatter in a perfectly harmless manner, evidently 
with no evil intentions. He did not seem even to be aware 
of the presence of the Chiff-chaff and her family, who, how- 
ever, appeared to resent his proximity, for, leaving the bushes, 
she flew straight up lke a rocket to the top of the elm, 
and attacked the Missel-Thrush so vigorously that he at last 
flew away, pursued for some distance by the irate mother. 
The male, although taking little or no notice of the young, 
does not leave his territory, as I have already mentioned, 
until towards the end of July. About this time both young 
and old often join the small flocks of Tits and different 
species of Warblers, which, roaming from field to field, travel 
thus in search of food—a merry party. The young have ample 
scope here for their playfulness, chasing whatever species 
happens to be nearest to them, whether Tit or Warbler. The 
adults are still the same restless, independent individuals, 
23 
