AMONGST THE HEATHER AND GORSE. 29 



be widely distributed over the gorse coverts of 

 Devonshire, but nowadays the bird seems entirely 

 to have disappeared from its wonted haunts. 

 Nearly a hundred years ago Montagu obtained 

 the nest eggs and young from a gorse covert near 

 Kingsbridge, but it may be sought for in that 

 neighbourhood now in vain. It is difficult to 

 account for the apparently complete extermination 

 of the species in the county, unless we attribute 

 it to exceptionally severe winters. Not that ex- 

 cessive cold would kill the little creatures, but it 

 would seriously affect their food supply and thus 

 bring death. Personally, we are inclined to 

 cherish the hope that the species still lingers in 

 the county. The Dartford Warbler is an exces- 

 sively skulking species, frequents haunts that are 

 rarely penetrated by those competent to identify 

 the bird, and might very easily be confused with 

 the Long-tailed Titmouse. We are bound to say, 

 however, that notwithstanding many a diligent 

 search (pursued sometimes under circumstances 

 the reverse of comfortable in its wonted cover) 

 our efforts up to the present time have met with 

 no success. 



As some compensation, however, we are pleased 



