154 BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE DARTFORD WARBLER. 



(Sylvia Provincialis, Gmelin. Bcc-fiu pifchou, 

 Temm.) 



THIS bird measures above five inches in length^ 

 of which the tail is about one half. The bill is 

 rather long and slender, and a little bent at the 

 tip; it is black, and whitish at the base; the eyes 

 are reddish; eye-lids deep crimson; all the upper 

 parts dark rusty brown, tinged with dull yellow; 

 the breast, part of the belly, and thighs deep red, 

 inclining to rust colour; the middle of the belly 

 white; the bastard wing is also w^hite; tail dusky, 

 except the exterior web of the outer feather, which 

 is white; legs yellow. 



It seems to be a rare bird in this country, and 

 owes its name, with us, to the accident of a pair 

 of them having been seen near Dartford, in Kent, 

 some years ago: they have since been observed 

 in great numbers, and are supposed sometimes to 

 winter with us. The above figure was taken from 

 a Wycliffe specimen. 



