DARTFORD WARBLER. 399 



Pennant, and by him this species was described and figured 

 in the fourth edition of his 'British Zoology' published in 

 1776 (i. p. 329, pi. Ivi.). Two years afterwards it was de- 

 scribed by Buff on, and figured in the ' Planches Enlumine'es.' 

 Since its discovery in Kent, it has been found on many of 

 the commons and heaths of the southern counties in England 

 Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, including the Isle of Wight, 

 Dorset, Wilts, Devon and Cornwall ; but in all it is one of the 

 most local birds, and, with an exception as regards Middlesex, 

 would seem not to breed to the north of the Thames. How- 

 ever, it occasionally strays further, and is recorded as having 

 been met with in the counties of Oxford, Worcester, Leicester 

 and Derby a pair shot, in the winter of 1840, at Melbourne 

 in the county last named, and noticed by Mr. Briggs (Zool. 

 p. 2486) having attained the most northerly limit known for 

 the species in England ; as a straggler also it has occurred 

 in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. But in these coun- 

 ties it is very rare, and there is no reason to suppose its 

 appearance to be otherwise than accidental. 



It has not been met with either in Ireland or Scotland, 

 but it has occurred in Heligoland. There is now undeniable 

 evidence that this little bird remains in England throughout 

 the whole year ; and the fact is the more remarkable when 

 its distribution in foreign lands comes to be traced ; for it 

 will be seen that its range is very limited, and, being confined 

 to countries commonly accredited with a mild climate, might 

 induce the belief that it was not of a hardy nature. Yet 

 from the days of Montagu, who was the first to observe and 

 record the chief points in the economy of this species with 

 that diligence and accurate minuteness which distinguishes 

 him among all his contemporaries, it has been continually 

 seen at every season of the year, haunting either the thickest 

 furze on heaths and commons, or downs dotted with aged 

 whitethorns. Montagu shot one from the upper branch of a 

 furze-bush at a time when the furze was covered with snow ; 

 and he saw other examples on the same occasion. Rennie, 

 in his ' Architecture of Birds ' (p. 233) says that he ob- 

 served it on Blackheath, suspended over the furze, and sing- 



