DA.BTFORD WAEBLEE. 131 



These birds appear, 'sans doute,' to live with us throughout 

 the year, being seen even in mid-winter, as well as in the 

 summer. 



In their habits they are very shy, concealing themselves, 

 on being approached, in the cover on the open downs and 

 waste places where they dwell, into which they creep in a 

 quiet but secure manner. They prefer those places where the 

 furze is very thick, and also frequent thorn bushes. They are 

 capable of being kept in confinement, and are exceedingly 

 active in all their movements, assuming a great variety of 

 attitudes. They shew much anxiety for the safety of their 

 young, using every art to allure intruders from the spot, 

 almost suffering themselves to be touched before they move 

 away. 



They fly with a short jerk, confining, for the most part, 

 their movements to the bushes, to which they attach themselves. 



Their food consists of flies, grasshoppers and other insects, 

 and the former of these are captured on the wing, sallied 

 after from time to time from the tops of bushes, the station 

 being again resumed. In confinement they are also frugiferous. 



The note, which has been heard so early as the end of 

 February, in the year 1830, is described as weak and shrill, 

 but often repeated, either when the bird is perched on some 

 topmost or outside twig, or when hovering over the bush; 

 it is sometimes continued for half an hour at a time. The 

 bird has also a common 'cha, cha, cha,' or 'tscha, tscha, tscha.' 



The nest, which is slight in its make, is placed in a furze 

 bush, to the stems of which it is attached, at a height of 

 about two feet from the ground. It is built of dry stalks 

 and grass, mixed with bits of the gorse; the materials are 

 apparently but loosely put together, though in reality firmly 

 compacted, and have a slight interweaving of wool. 



The eggs are of a whitish grey ground colour, slightly tinged 

 with green, speckled all over with olive brown and ash-colour; 

 towards the larger end the markings are more run together, 

 and form a sort of zone. 



Two broods appear to be reared in the year; for Montagu 

 found the nest and eggs after the middle of July, and saw 

 another pair of birds at the same time which had a nest near, 

 the earlier brood being hatched early in May. 



Male; length, five inches or a little over; bill, slender, and 

 nearly black, particularly towards the point; the edges of the 

 upper mandible are reddish yellow, as is the base of the 



