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 shook 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.”*' 
‘ Sweet’s Br. W arblers. 
