400 SYLVIID/E. 



ing on the wing like a Wbitetliroat or a Titlark, as early as 

 the end of February. But there is no need to multiply 

 instances of Avhat no one will now dispute. 



In habits the Dartford Warbler is an active and restless 

 bird, when unaware of danger flitting in jerks from twig to 

 twig, catching insects on the wing, and pausing for a few 

 seconds to exhibit its violent gesticulations and to utter its 

 harsh cry — first syllabled by Montagu as " cha cha," when 

 perched on the top of a bush or hovering over it. But on 

 the least alarm it l)ecomes silent and seeks shelter in the 

 nearest thicket, almost always entering at the l)ottom and, if 

 pressed, j^assing from bush to bush, so as to shew itself only 

 for an instant in the intervening spaces. In spring the 

 motions of the male are exceedingly brisk : he dances, as it 

 were, in the air, throwing his head from side to side and 

 his tail in all directions, his song at that time being for 

 some part of the day almost incessant. Later in the season 

 he is more staid in his demeanour, and may then be observed 

 on the uppermost spray of a furze-bush in vocal strain for 

 half an hour together. Towards the end of summer, if the 

 weather be dry, the birds may be often seen dusting them- 

 selves in the sandy track-ways which run through their usual 

 haunts, but at this time of year they do not much expose 

 themselves to observation, and seldom are more than two or 

 three found in company. In autumn they seem to collect, 

 and in winter Mr. Bury (Zool. p. G852) has noticed that 

 when shooting in the Isle of Wight, they are constantly 

 driven up from the turnip-fields before the dogs. The pre- 

 cise nature of the Dartford Warbler's food at this season, or 

 indeed at any other, has not been ascertained, but small 

 insects of all kinds are said to be taken, and IMoutagu 

 mentions his having found in one the larvae of a large Clmex. 

 According to Mr. Blyth it will in autumn eat blackberries. 

 The appearance of this bird is generally singular : its very 

 long tail and very short wings, with the slaty-blackness 

 of its upper parts, seen as it flees from the disturber of its 

 peace, have often struck even the incurious, while closer ol)- 

 servation shews that when flying the legs are senerallv held 



