54 DARTFORD WARLLER. 



it singing among the orange-gardens of Murcia ; while it nests in 

 the sierras of the almost tropical south coast at elevations of from 

 i,ooo to 3,000 feet. In Morocco and Algeria it is also resident, 

 and it has been recorded from Lower Egypt and Palestine ; but in 

 Europe its eastern range is not known to extend beyond Italy and 

 Sicily, the bird seldom reaching Malta. In Liguria, Corsica, Sardinia, 

 and the Balearic Islands, it is to a great extent replaced by a close 

 ally, ^. sa7-da, of a nearly uniform grey tint. 



The nest in this country is placed among the lower branches of 

 the thickest furze ; but on the Continent, especially in the south, 

 broom and heather are selected. The materials are principally 

 goose-grass and the softer branches of furze, with a little wool and 

 moss ; the second nest of the season being generally more flimsy 

 than the first ; but on the whole the structure is tolerably compact. 

 The eggs, 4-5, are greenish-white, with olive or reddish-brown 

 markings — bolder than on those of the Whitethroat : average 

 measurements "68 by "5 in. The first nest is made in April ; the 

 second in June or July. The food of both old and young consists 

 principally of insects ; but in autumn blackberries and probably 

 other fruits are added. In its habits the Dartford Warbler is a rest- 

 less bird, flitting from the top of one furze bush to another, with a 

 quick and very undulating flight ; alighting in an abrupt manner as 

 if the action were the result of an after-thought : the tail being 

 spread for an instant as if to aid the bird in an effort to retain its 

 balance. On the wing the adult looks very dark : in fact like a 

 olack long-tailed Wren. The note which I have most frequently 

 heard uttered is a pit-it-diou, whence the French name Pitchou ; 

 but a scolding cha-cha is emitted when the bird is irritated. In 

 severe winters its numbers are liable to be greatly reduced. 



Adult male : upper parts dark slate-grey ; wings dark brown with 

 paler margins to the secondaries ; the long dark fan-shaped tail with 

 white outer margins and tips to the two exterior feathers ; chin, 

 throat, breast and flanks rufous-chestnut in spring, but streaked and 

 spotted with white in autumn ; lower breast and belly dull white ; 

 bill horn-brown at the tip, yellowish at the base ; legs and feet pale 

 brown; irides and eyelids orange-yellow. Length 5T in.; wing to 

 the tip of the 4th and longest primary, 2*25 in. The female is 

 rather smaller and browner, and shows less chestnut on the breast. 

 The young are still paler than the female, and have more white on 

 the lower parts ; irides brown. 



