THE DARTFORD WARBLER. 85 



cabbage gardens, it is called Fittc-chou or Fitt-chou. 

 Its English name was given because it was first 

 remarked at Bcxley Heath, near Dartford, in Kent, 

 in the year 1733. 



A writer in Loudon's Magazine of Natural 

 History, well known to the readers of that work 

 by his valuable contributions under the name of 

 Rusticus of Ciodahning, says that this bird is very 

 common in his neighbourhood, though almost 

 unknown in other districts. His characteristic 

 description of the bird is too good to be omitted. 

 "If," says this writer, " you have ever watched a 

 common wren (a kitty wren we call her), you must 

 have observed that she cocked her tail bolt upright, 

 strained her little beak at right angles, and her 

 throat in the same fashion, to make the most of 

 her fizgig of a song, and ke])t jumping and jerking 

 and frisking about, for all the world as though she 

 was worked by steam ; well, that's the precise 

 character of the Dartford warbler, or, as we call it, 

 the furze WTcn. AVlien the leaves are off the trees, 

 and the chill winter winds have driven the summer 

 birds to the olive gardens of Spain, or across the 

 .Straits, the furze wren is in the height of his 

 enjoyment. I have seen them by dozens, skipping 



