22 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Seven occurrences (in autumn) are recorded, i.e. : one 

 at Cambridge, identified by Prof. Newton, in 1879 > f ur 

 in 1884 (Yorkshire, Norfolk, Isle of Skye, and Co. Mayo), 

 a second in Norfolk in 1888, and a second in Yorks 

 in 1892. 



GENUS X. MELIZOPHILUS, Leach (1816). 

 Differs not greatly from Sylvia, in which it is merged by 

 some authorities. Tail is longer and bill shorter and 

 straighter ; wings rather short, 4th quill longest. Feathers 

 of crown are capable of partial erection. 



28. Melizophilus undatus (Boddaert). DARTFORD 

 WARBLER. 



Hab. Western Europe (Spain, Portugal, France, and 

 southern half of England), also Northern Africa. 



Male : above dusky -grey ; wings dusky -brown ; secon- 

 dary quills with pale margins ; tail long, rounded, very 

 dark brown, outer feathers margined and tipped with 

 greyish-white ; throat, breast, and flanks, reddish-chestnut; 

 centre of belly white ; bill orange at base, blackish at 

 tip ; tarsi orange-brown ; iris orange-red. Length 5*00. 

 Female : browner above, and chestnut below is paler and 

 chiefly restricted to throat, while in young it is almost absent. 



Resident, but scarce north of Thames ; rather common 

 in furze districts of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire ; 

 slightly less so in the north-west counties as far as 

 Cornwall. Has been reported as ^breeding in some 

 eastern and midland counties, while I believe that it did so 

 near Middlesborough, Yorkshire, in June, 1895 ("Orni- 

 thologist," April, 1896) ; Mr. C. Dixon has also recorded 

 it as nesting in the south of the same county. Nest 

 (similar to Whitethroat's, but more substantial) 

 placed low down in dense furze ; composed of slender twigs 



