The nest of this species is oval, with a small hole near the top, composed 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 most 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 shaken 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 at 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[105].”
THE RUFOUS CHIFF-CHAFF.
Sylvia rufa, Bechstein; La Fauvette rousse, Buffon; Der Weidenzeisig, Bechstein.
This and the gold-crested wren are the smallest of our European birds.
The full-grown male has the bill a third of an inch in length, very narrow, and pointed; of a blackish brown, except at the edges and within, where it is yellow. The iris is dusky brown. From the base of the bill on each side there runs a narrow yellowish white streak, and there is another straight streak of a dusky yellow over the eye. The sides of the head are of a very clear brown. The upper part of the head, neck, and back, are greyish brown, with a slight tinge of olive. The throat is greyish white; the breast light grey, with a very pale tinge of red, or rather rust brown. The belly is greyish white, with faint yellowish streaks.
The females and the young males, before the first moult, have the upper parts of a clear olive green, and the under parts reddish white.
I have never met with the nest; but it is said to be built on the ground amongst fallen leaves, domed, with a side entrance, and lined with feathers. The eggs are said to be from four to seven, white, with reddish black dots, most crowded at the larger end.