8 THE WARBLERS 



at a good height from the ground. Several nests have been found in tall ferns and 

 also in ivy on walls. The materials used are long grass stalks bent round, and the 

 lining consists of fine grasses and a few hairs. (PI. xix.) Both sexes share in building. 

 (E. L. T.) Eggs, usually 5, less commonly 4 or 6, slightly larger and glossier than 

 those of the blackcap with more distinct shell markings and lighter surface blotches 

 and spots. Some eggs are almost white, with only a few faint yellowish cloudings 

 or zones of small spots. (PI. C.) Average size of 100 eggs, -79 x -58 in. [20-1 x 14*7 

 mm.]. Eggs may be found from about mid-May onward ; often at the end of May 

 or early in June. Incubation lasts 13 days and Bau (Ed. v. p. 78) says that the 

 cock takes part during the afternoon. Only one brood is reared. [F. c. R. j.] 



5. Food. Insects and their larvae, fruit and berries. The nestlings are fed by 

 both parents entirely on insects and their larvae. [E. L. T.] 



6. Song Period. From its arrival towards the end of April till the middle of 

 July. It has been heard in August by C. and H. Alexander (British Birds, i. p. 367, 

 and iv. p. 278. Cf. also Zool, 1851, p. 3111). [E. L. T.] 



DART FORD- WARBLER [Sylvia undata (Boddaert). Furze-wren. 

 French, pitchou proven$al ; German, Provence-Grasmiicke ; Italian, magna- 

 nina.~] 



I. Description. The Dartford- warbler may be recognised at once by the 

 dark brown coloration of the upper parts and the long, fan-shaped tail. (PI. 50.) 

 In the male, in spring, the upper parts are of a dark chocolate-brown, inclining to 

 slate-grey on the head. The primaries and secondaries are of a dark sepia, the inner 

 secondaries relieved by greyish brown margins. The throat, fore-neck, fore-breast, 

 flanks, and under tail-coverts are of a dark chestnut-red. The tail is long and 

 rounded, and the distal half of the outermost feather has a narrow white margin 

 along its outer web, which is continued round on to the inner web. The legs and 

 toes are of a reddish brown, and the iris is dark red. Length 5-1 hi. [130 mm.]. 

 The female and immature birds are of a much paler brown above, while the under 

 parts are of a pale chestnut-brown. After the autumn moult more or less distinct 

 white spots appear on the throat of both sexes, but these are lost by abrasion 

 during the winter. The juvenile plumage resembles the adult in having the 

 upper parts of a very dark brown, but of a duller, more ' sooty ' hue, while 

 the under parts are of a yellowish brown, darker on the throat and flanks, 

 [w. P. P.] 



