DARTFORD WARBLER GOLD-CRESTED WREN. IB 



Site. Near ground, in brambles or low bush, in shrubberies, 

 in dwarf box hedge, &c. 



Materials. Dry grass, lined with finer grasses and hair, 

 loosely put together. 



Eggs. Four to five. Dull white, blotched and spotted with 

 brown and greyish olive ; no ruddy suffusion as in last. 



DAIITFOKD WAEBLEE OB FURZE WEEN 



(Sylvia undata). 



Eesident ; very local and uncommon. Breeds in most of 

 the southern counties, more especially in Hants, Surrey, 

 Sussex and Kent ; much rarer further north. 



Haunts. Furze-grown commons. 



Plumage. Upper parts dark greyish brown, more slaty on 

 the head ; under parts chestnut-brown, paling into dull white 

 on the belly. Tail dark grey, long and fan-shaped, two outer 

 featb^s broadly tipped with brownish white. Bill horn-brown, 

 paling into yellowish at the base. Legs pale brown. Length 

 5 in. In appearance much like a dark-coloured long-tailed 

 Wren. Female smaller and paler ; after autumn moult, 

 throat, breast and flanks spotted and streaked with white. 

 Young, paler than female and whiter under parts. 



Language. Song, hurried and impetuous like the Wren's^ 

 a loud "pitchoo" repeated two or three times; scolding note, 

 a harsh "cha." 



Habits. A most skulking bird, and seldom seen ; extremely 

 restless and full of curious antics, fanning its long tail and 

 perching on the topmost sprays of gorse. Flight fairly rapid 

 and undulating. 



Food. Insects principally, also fruits. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. Always low down in thick furze-bush, and carefully 

 concealed. 



Materials. Dead pieces of furze and bents intertwined with 

 moss or wool, lined with finer materials and, perhaps, some 

 horsehair. Cup deep, but flimsily compacted. 



Eggs. Four to six. Greenish white, closely speckled with 

 reddish brown and olive. 



GOLDEN-GEE STED WEEN (Regulus cristatus). 



Eesident ; generally distributed throughout Great Britain. 



Haunts. Well-wooded localities; especially fond of coni- 

 ferous trees. 



Observation. Our smallest bird. 



Plumage. Top of head bright yellow, shading into orange 

 at the back, bounded by a dark streak, below which comes the 



