CHIFF-CHAFF. 



83 



and dart at every fly that passes, frequently returning to the same 

 place again, like the flycatcher, to which they seem as nearly allied as 

 the coldfinch or pied flycatcher, insects and worms being their only 

 food. This bird seems to be more general than the other species ; it 

 remains with us the whole year, and is one of the first birds that makes 

 its nest in the spring. We have frequently found it with eggs before 

 the middle of April. 



The nest is placed on, or very near the ground, at the bottom of a 

 furze, or some other bush ; is composed of moss and bents, lined with 

 hair, and sometimes mixed with small feathers. The eggs are five in 

 number, of a blue colour, with small rufous spots at the larger end, 

 which in some are faint, in which case they are scarcely to be known 

 from those of the whinchat ; their weight is about thirty grains. It is 

 probable this species quits its usual place of abode, the dreary moors and 

 furzy commons, in very severe weather, as we have observed in some 

 of the most temperate parts of England, Devonshire, and Cornwall ; 

 for, on the fall of a considerable quantity of snow, not one was to be 

 seen where many were the day before ; nor did they return for some 

 time after the snow was melted. It is hardly possible they should 

 quit the kingdom in the middle of winter, and yet none were to be seen 

 anywhere about that country. 



It is likely a partial migration takes place in autumn, as we do not 

 see so many in winter as in summer. * " I have not," says Selby, 

 " lost sight of this suggestion, and am inclined to think that the 

 greater part of the young of the year do migrate in the course of the 

 winter, having repeatedly noticed (in places where the species is 

 abundant) the disappearance of the young as winter approached, whilst 

 the parent birds remained attached to their favourite spot. In very 

 severe storms of snow, even those that winter here are sometimes 

 compelled to quit their usual situations, and take refuge in more in- 

 closed grounds, or in plantations. In the early part of the spring it 

 sings very prettily, springing into the air, and suspending* itself some 

 time on wing. But as it breeds so early its song is of short duration, 

 as few birds sing after their young are hatched."* 



When the young leave the nest, the old birds are extremely cla- 

 morous and bold, and are as artful in enticing any one from their 

 young, as they are in concealing their nest. 



CHIFF-CHAFF (Sylvia hippolais, Latham.) 



*SyIvia hippolais, Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 507. sp. 4. — Motacilla hippolais, Linn. Syst. 

 1. p. 330. l.—Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 954.— Ficedula septima, Aldrov. (Pettychaps), 

 Rail, Syn. p. 79. A. 7.— Will. p. 158.— La Fauvette des Roseaux, Buff. pL 

 Enl. 581. f. 2. but the description of this figure refers to the true Fauvette 



G 2 



