WILLOW WAEBLER 



path which extended throughout its entire length. In some 

 places it was more or less open, in others thickly covered with 

 undergrowth consisting principally of hazel, bramble, and 

 honeysuckle, and scattered here and there were such trees as 

 oak, ash and beech. The territory I am speaking of more 

 particularly, and to which I shall refer as No. 2, was about 

 fifty yards in length and embraced a portion of the wood 

 thickly covered with undergrowth. Being away from home 

 for a few days about the middle of April, I do not know the 

 exact date upon which the male arrived, and any initial 

 struggle which may have occurred over the question of terri- 

 tory was consequently missed. On April 20th three males 

 occupied the three adjoining territories, and the scenes which 

 have already been described as usual previous to the advent 

 of a female were constantly occurring between the three 

 individuals. An oak tree situated at one end of No. 2 

 territory was often resorted to by the owner and may have 

 been his headquarters ; in any case he made considerable use 

 of it, and there passed much of his time in song. From it, 

 too, and from other parts of his territory, he was wont to 

 make excursions into the willows. Here also he sometimes 

 encountered No. 3 male, when a struggle usually ensued. On 

 the morning of April 23rd three birds were in No. 2 territory, 

 one of which I believed to be a female. This was soon con- 

 firmed, for the owner of the territory summoned by her quiet 

 singing approached, and the usual scenes of excitement then 

 followed. For short intervals she left him, and once wan- 

 dered into No. 3 territory, but soon returned to No. 2. In 

 the evening she was on the edge of No. 1 territory, from 

 which she was pursued by No. 2 male, who followed her back 

 into his own territory. Another single bird now entered and 

 remained in this territory for a time, being sometimes pur- 

 sued by the owner. 'April 25th found the pair together, 

 excitement subsiding, and the male not singing so much as 

 usual. On April 26th the female was building, the nest being- 

 situated in one corner of the territory on the boundary of 



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