THE DARTFORD WARBLER. 27 



are of a greenish-white ground colour, and fully speckled 

 with olive-brown and ash colour ; around the thicker end 

 the markings form a pretty distinct belt or zone. There is 

 a general resemblance in these eggs to those of the White- 

 throat, the latter, however, being a trifle larger, and of a 

 dirtier colour. 



The Dartford Warbler was first recognised as an inhabit- 

 ant of Great Britain by Dr. Latham, rather more than a 

 century ago; the first specimen Avas noticed at Dartford, 

 in Kent hence its name. 



The entire length of the Dartford Warbler is rather 

 more than five inches, half of this measurement being 

 taken up by the tail. The beak is slender, and nearly 

 black, particularly towards the point; the edges of the 

 upper mandible and the base of the lower one reddish-yellow ; 

 i rides reddish ; the head, cheeks, neck, back, and upper tail- 

 coverts are greyish-black ; the wing-coverts, wing, and tail- 

 feathers blackish-brown, with edges of a rather lighter 

 colour ; the chin chestnut brown, with specks of dull white ; 

 the throat, breast, and sides are chestnut brown, without 

 spots ; the edge of the wing between the carpal joint and 

 the spurious wing- feathers is white ; the belly dirty white ; 

 under surface of the wings, under tail-coverts, and under sur- 

 face of the tail-feathers slate-grey; the tail is somewhat 

 pointed, the feathers on the sides being considerably shorter 

 than the centre ones, and having an edging of light grey. 

 The legs and toes are pale reddish-brown; claws darker 

 brown. The young birds as well as the females are lighter 

 than the males on the under portions of the body, and there 

 is more brown on the upper parts. 



In an aviary the bird is active and cheerful, and its grace- 

 ful sprightly movements cannot fail to attract attention \ 



