SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



" This interesting little species," says Mr. Sweet, 

 " is generally the first of the Warblers that visit us 

 in spring, except Sylvia cenanthe (the Wheatear), 

 which occasionally precedes it. The earliest time 

 of their arrival that ever I noticed was the 12th 

 March. Some years they do not visit us till the 

 end of that month. I have frequently known seve- 

 ral days of hard frost after their arrival ; so that it 

 is not a very tender bird. On their first coming 

 to this country, they are mostly seen in the for- 

 wardest trees in orchards or copses, flying from 

 branch to branch, and from tree to tree, singing 

 their curious song of ' chiff-chaff, chivvy-chavvy :' 

 if the weather is fine and mild, they are continually 

 in motion, flying after each other, and catching the 

 gnats and small flies that happen to come in their 

 way. This species is very partial to the different 

 sorts of aphis which infest the trees and plants 

 in summer ; they are also fond of small cater- 

 pillars, flies, and moths ; on their first arrival they 

 feed chiefly on the larvae of the different species 

 of tortrix that are rolled in the unfolding buds 

 of various trees." 



From the length of time that this bird not only 

 remains in the country, but continues in song, (Mr. 

 Mudie observes,) it probably has two broods in 

 favourable situations ; and that may account for 

 the considerable differences in size and weight 

 that are found in different specimens, and also for 

 the fact of some remaining over the winter. 



Before it finally leaves the country, the insect 



