Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 2 of 9.djvu/46

 not so much following the flock, but rather taking a line of their own whenever an occasion arises. Thus you will find them in fields of beans or potatoes, appearing on the top of a plant one minute, then disappearing, only to appear again fifty yards or so away; and again, you will see them in hedgerows or in the taller trees, anxious to join in any game or fight, for food is plentiful and family cares have ceased.

In August, during the moulting period, they are much quieter, only singing occasionally, but in September they, together with the young birds, commence to sing again. Now also, they begin to think of migrating, gradually decreasing in numbers during the month, so that by the first week in October few are left.

A second brood is sometimes reared in the same season. Whether this is due to the first brood being destroyed I cannot say, but I have frequently seen the female tending her young in August.

During the last autumn days that they spend with us they are still active and full of vigour, singing a good deal, and ready to play with one another, or, indeed, with any other bird that happens to cross their path. Abundance of food and no work is probably the cause of this burst of activity; in addition to this they have finished their moult, and are therefore in the best of health.

During their games they sit facing on opposite branches with quivering wings, then, darting at one another, they play in the air, their bills making the usual clicking noise. Tits come in for much teasing, and I have been amused to notice that the Blue Tit is held in much higher esteem than the other members of the family. A pretty sight it is to see one of them playing with a Blue Tit; the Tit clinging on to an upright sprig, looks down with contempt at the Chiff-chaff: a foot or so below, clinging to the same sprig and looking up, trying to make up his mind to attack.

Interesting as everything pertaining to the life of this species is, there is one distinctive characteristic which is