Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 3 of 9.djvu/58

 The moulting period extends from the middle of August until the end of September, but they do not all moult at the same time; some have assumed their winter plumage by the beginning of September, while others do not do so until the latter part of that month.

During the autumn they can be easily watched in the elder-bushes, where, attracted by the berries, they collect, and spend the first few hours of the morning, and probably the greater part of the day. When possible it is best to conceal oneself, while yet dark, in the bushes that are known to be frequented: the birds then collect naturally, and are often completely unaware of one's presence. There is at this time of year a very marked change in their temperament; a reaction has set in; the tendency towards extreme excitability, which was the leading characteristic of both sexes, but of the males especially, during the spring and early summer, has disappeared, and we now find sober-minded individuals, prone to a certain amount of playfulness, but apparently more contented when preening their feathers, resting, or feeding. Their games at this period, if they are games, are not very interesting to watch and seem to lack vigour; they more often take the form of a scolding match. When three take part there is considerable commotion, but often two fly at, and simply pass by each other without actually fighting. The males, while resting, sing very quietly a song which is scarcely audible twenty yards away, but they do occasionally break out into louder strains, which are very poor compared with those in spring. The quiet song is much the prettier. During the performance the throat is considerably distended, but the effort to produce the sound is apparently not very great. If it were not for the mist and the smell of decaying vegetation it would be easy, when listening to this song, to imagine oneself back again in spring. I have sometimes seen two males, comparatively near, answering one another; while the one was singing the other would turn his head sideways, listening intently, and when the first one had finished, would immediately commence to repeat the strain. But this quiet