DARTFORD WARBLERS 5 



description. Other bird-life is often scarce in a 

 ' Dartford ' haunt and summer-time affords no 

 exception. Linnets there are, of course, and 

 generally Whitethroats ; of course, also, Meadow- 

 Pipits (sometimes Tree-Pipits), Larks, and Stone- 

 chats ; occasionally a Wheatear, Whinchat, or Corn- 

 Bunting ; better still, a Grasshopper- Warbler ; best 

 of all, perhaps, a Hobby or Montagu's Harrier. 



Your best chance of being rewarded with some 

 insight into the Dartford Warbler's moods and 

 mode of life is to visit, in the spring or summer, 

 some recognised resort of the species. Yet, so shy, 

 so skulking, and withal so sensitive to the elements, 

 are these fascinating furze- sprites, that, on a cold, 

 boisterous day particularly if the sun has forgotten 

 to shine you may hang about well nigh from 

 morn till eve without perhaps so much as a 

 glimpse of a single one. Rain and sleet the birds 

 positively detest ; wind they disapprove of, though 

 if the sun smiles they will tolerate it. On the 

 right day, however and the right day is still and 

 sunny ten hours judiciously spent in the proper 

 place brings ample recompense to the watcher. 

 To begin with, as you approach the tag end of a 

 ' brake," you may see a dusky -looking, fragile little 

 form rise flutteringly from the far side of a bush, 

 only to dive into it with quickness extraordinary. 

 Stand stock still, and even then so elusive is 

 your quarry, that a faint rustling from the interior 

 of the bush may alone betoken its whereabouts. 



