10 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



perfectly harmless to gardeners and farmers, but they 

 confer an inestimable boon on all, by ridding the air of 

 millions of nocuous insects. 



If any of our British birds require a law to protect 

 them, there are none, in my opinion, more worthy 

 of it than the Swallow tribe. 



It was lately stated in print that a certain firm of 

 plumassiers had given out an order for a hundred dozen 

 Swallows and Martins. Such wanton destruction of 

 a useful bird ought certainly, if possible, to be put a 

 stop to. 



House Martins, although generally nesting, as their 

 name implies, round the dwellings of man, may be 

 occasionally found building amongst rocks and cliffs. 



The specimens in the case were taken, together with 

 their nest, at the Cromarty Rocks, in July, 1869. 



DARTFOKD WARBLER. 

 Case 12. 



This is by no means an uncommon, though a 

 decidedly local species. I have, however, only met 

 with it in the south-eastern counties. 



During the summer, Dartford Warblers may gene- 

 rally be found in most of the large patches of furze that 

 are scattered over the South Downs, though, being 

 remarkably shy, they are liable to escape observation, 

 as, on the slightest signs of danger, they immediately 

 seek the shelter of the bushes. 



In the winter they seem to be of a roving disposi- 

 tion, as I have met with them several times among the 

 stunted thorn-bushes and straggling furze on the beach 



