456 BRITISH BIRDS 1 NESTS. 



but I have never met with a nest so early. May, 

 June, and July. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in March or April, 

 and leaving in September. Notes : tzee-tzee, sipp- 

 sipp. Local and other names : Cowbird, Ray's 

 Wagtail, Yellow Wagster. Sits lightly, and, although 

 by no means shy, is very wary. 



WARBLER, DARTFORD 



(Melizophilus undatus.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family SYLVIIM: (WARBLERS). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about five 

 inches, nearly half of 

 which is accounted for 

 by the bird's exception- 

 ally long tail ; bill fairly 

 long, slightly curved down- 

 ward, and blackish, with 

 the exception of the base 

 of the lower mandible 

 and along the edges of the 



upper, which are orange. Irides light or dark red, 

 according to age. Head, neck, back, and upper- 

 tail coverts greyish-black ; wings blackish-brown, 

 the quill-feathers being bordered with a lighter 

 tinge ; tail blackish-brown, the external feathers 

 being broadly tipped with grey ; chin, throat, 

 breast, and sides chestnut-brown ; belly white ; 

 under tail-coverts slate grey ; legs and toes pale 

 reddish-brown ; claws darker. 



The female resembles the male, except that she 

 is more tinged with brown on her upper- and lighter 



