28 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
Central Africa to most of Cex@ffal and Southern Europe. A 
rare straggler only to the British Isles. 
Habitat: Partial to thorn-thickets or willow-bushes. 
Genus MELIZOPHILUS. 
DARTFORD WARBLER. Xs 
Melizophilus undatus (od/.) 
Adult Male (Summer): Above sooty-brown, shading 
into deep slate-colour on head; wings dark brown, paler 
margined ; Jdeneath chestnut-brown ; centre of abdomen and. 
some streaks on throat white; bill dark brown, paler at base 
beneath ; legs, feet, and claws pale brown ; irides orange-yellow. 
Length 5 inches ; culmen 0°35 ; wing 2; tail 2°7 ; tarsus 0°75. 
Adult Female (Summer): Differs from male in having 
the general colour of under parts, except centre of abdomen, 
pale cinnamon-brown. 
Birds of the Year: Like female, but paler and browner 
above and paler beneath. 
Distribution: Resident in Western and Southern Europe, 
including parts of south of England. 
Habitat: Dense thickets and furze bushes on commons. 
MAR SO RA’ S\ WARBL EE. 
Melizophilus sardus (J/arm.) 
Adult Male (Summer): Above deep blackish-grey, 
deepest on forehead and round the eyes; wings and tail 
blackish-brown, ¢he Jatter the longer, outermost rectrices mar- 
gined with white; feathers of ¢hroat and sides of body slaty, 
some with whitish margins; rest of under parts dull white ;_ bill 
dark horn, yellowish at base of lower mandible; legs yellowish- 
brown ; irides brown. Length 5 inches ; culmen 0°4 ; wing 2°2 ; 
tail 2°4 ; tarsus o0°8. 
Adult Female (Summer): Both upper and under parts 
browner, otherwise like the male. 
