Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 4 of 9.djvu/30

 He follows, then, closely in her wake as she wanders through the hedgerow, often uttering his peculiar hissing note. But as his excitement increases he appears upon the top of the hedge or the thicket in which he happens to be, and contracting all his feathers, excepting those on his head, which he raises, and on his throat which he swells out, thus giving himself the appearance of a bird with a head too large in proportion to its body, he commences to sing or warble violently. Thus he performs for a short time, then again goes in search of the female, disappearing rapidly into the bushes. After a few moments he again appears, behaving in a similar manner, or displaying his excitement by his aerial dance. This dance is really very pretty, and can often be seen during the summer months. Rising in the air to some height, he spreads out his tail, erects his head feathers, and, while singing, commences his dancing flight, as if suspended on an elastic thread, gradually making his way lower and lower down until he finally darts back again into the hedgerow.

The periods during which in his wild and headlong flight he almost precipitates himself on to the female occur frequently, but only in the moments of his most frenzied excitement. When this takes place the female may be either in the dense undergrowth or in some small bush almost hidden from view, or she may be in a more open position. He settles on a branch a little distance above her, and here for a few moments he will remain watching intently. He contracts all his body feathers, but in striking contrast erects his head feathers, and, almost lying upon the branch in his anxiety to get a glimpse of her below, continuously gives utterance to a quiet purring note. Then suddenly he commences his mad flight. Leaving the branch he precipitates himself towards her, and upon reaching the topmost twigs of the bush or undergrowth swerves upwards, turns in the air, and again darts towards her. Thus he continues for a short time, flying backwards and forwards, singing intermittently. But he does not always turn in the air, for