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ON THE BREEDING-HABITS OF THE DARTFORD 

 WARBLER. 



BY 



PERCY F. BUN YARD, r.z.s., m.b.o.u. 



My first introduction to the Dartford Warbler {Sylvia 

 iindata dartfordiensis) Avas in 1906 in one of the home 

 counties. Since then I have had exceptional oppor- 

 tunities of studying this most mteresting bird, and some 

 forty pairs in four widely separated locahties in the 

 south of England have come under my obsers'ation, 

 and in each season a considerable time has been spent 

 among them. 



With regard to their general habits it is difficult to 

 dogmatize, as Like many other species no two pairs 

 seem to behave in exactly the same manner. The 

 great difficulty in keeping such restless birds under 

 close observation for any length of time will be readily 

 appreciated by all those ^^•ho know them, but if one 

 is fortunate in locating a pair Avith young still m the 

 nest, a good vicAv of both old birds is assured, for one 

 may then liide Avithin tAvo or three yards of the nest 

 and after a iew moments the birds Avill almost cease 

 " scolding " and resume their feeding operations. 

 Large and small moths, butterflies, " daddy-long-legs," 

 spiders, and larA^se of many kinds, principally one of a 

 vivid green colour, are brought hi large numbers by both 

 birds at frequent mterA'als, but the female is the more 

 active and will sometimes make tAvo journeys to CA^ery 

 one made by the male, \Aho occasionally bursts into 

 song until driA^en off to his parental duties by the female. 

 The sexes are easily distmguishable, the male being 

 larger and more brightly coloured and haA^ng darker 

 legs than the female. Sometimes the mandibles are 

 so loaded Avith food that the alarm-note becomes 

 almost maudible and ludicrous. 



Another favourable time for Avatchmg these birds 

 is Avhile they are buildmg. Materials are brought at 



