CHIFF-CHAFF. 85 



The nest of this species is oval, with a small hole near the top, com- 

 posed externally of dry leaves, and then coarse dry grass, and lined 

 with feathers ; and is generally placed on or near the ground, frequently 

 on a ditch bank, in a tuft of grass or low bush. The eggs are six in 

 number, white, speckled with purplish red at the larger end only, with 

 here and there a single speck on the sides. 



It seems to be the hardiest and more generally diffused of all our 

 summer visitants ; and is found in all parts of the kingdom where wood 

 or hedges afford it shelter and food. Its note is heard long after 

 the hay bird is silent. Dr. Latham says this is called in Dorsetshire 

 the hay bird ; but as we are inclined to believe the three species before 

 mentioned have been confounded, it is more probable that our hay bird 

 should obtain that name, as its nest is composed of that material. 



* Mr. Sweet tells us " it is readily taken in a trap baited with small 

 caterpillars. They soon get familiar in confinement : when first caught 

 they should, if possible, be put with other birds, and they will readily 

 take to feed on bruised hemp-seed and bread, and on bread and milk, 

 which must at first be stuck full of small insects, or a quantity of 

 aphides may be £hook off a branch upon it : when they have once tasted 

 it they will be very fond of it. One that I caught took to eat it directly, 

 and became so familiar, that in three or four days it would take a fly 

 out of the hand ; it also learnt to drink milk out of a tea-spoon, of 

 which it was so fond, that it would fly after it all round the room, and 

 perch on the hand that held it, without showing the least symptoms of 

 fear : it would also fly up to the ceiling, and bring down a fly in its 

 mouth every time. At last it got so very tame, that it would sit on 

 my knee by the fire and sleep ; and when the windows were open, it 

 would never attempt, nor seemed to have the least inclination, to fly 

 out; so that I last ventured to entice it out in the garden, to see 

 whether it would return. I with difficulty enticed it out at the door 

 with a spoon of milk : it returned twice to the room ; the third time it 

 ventured into a little tree ; it then fled and perched on my hand, and 

 drank milk out of the spoon ; from thence it flew to the ground on 

 some chickweed, in which it washed itself, and got into a holly-bush to 

 dry. After getting among the leaves, I could see no more of it, but 

 heard it call several times. I suppose after it got quite dry that it left 

 the country directly, as I could never see or hear it afterwards, and it 

 was then the end of November, when all the others had left for some 

 time."* 1 



1 Sweet's Br. Warblers. 



