140 SYLVIAD.^. 



as earl}' as the 11th of April — and sing all through the 

 summer ; I have heard it as late as the 30th of September. 

 Their nests, popularly called "wood-ovens," are alike, and 

 placed in similar situations ; their eggs are of the same 

 size and shape, but those of the Chiff-chaff are spotted with 

 very dark purple instead of rust colour. The Chiff-chaff 

 has been observed in England before the 1st of April ; a 

 few have been seen even in mid-winter, and it is supposed 

 that some habitually remain with us all the year, feeding 

 on winter gnats and the pupae of small insects, but 

 remaining wholly silent. Other names by which it is 

 known are " Chip-chop " and Lesser Pettichaps. 



THE DAETFORD WAEBLEE. 



MELIZOPHILUS DARTFORDIENSIS. 



Upper parts dark greyish brown ; under, purplish red ; middle of the abdomen 

 white ; tail long, dark brown, the outer feather tipped with white ; wings very 

 short ; quills ash-grey on the inner web, dark brown on the outer ; feet 

 yellowish ; bill yellowish white, with a black tip. Length five inches and a 

 half. Eggs greenish white, speckled all over, and especially at the larger end, 

 with brown and ash-grey. 



This species received its name from having been first shot 

 on Bexley Heath, near Dartford, in 1773. It has smce 

 been observed on furzy commons in several of the southern 

 and western counties, but is local and nowhere abundant. 

 In its habits it resembles the Stone and Eurze Chats, perch- 

 ing on the upper sprays of the fui'ze and whitethorn, but 

 never still for a minute, throwing itself into various atti- 

 tudes, erecting its crest, and tail at intervals, frequently 

 rising into the air with most fantastic movements, catching 

 insects on the wing, and either returning to the same twig, 

 or makiQg a short flight to some other convenient bush. 

 Its song is simple and shrill, consisting of the syllables 

 " cha cha cha " several times repeated. This it utters in- 

 differently when perched or on the wing. It keeps quite 

 aloof from human habitations, and is so timid, that on the 



