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ON THE BREEDING-HABITS OF THE DARTFORD 

 WARBLER. 



BY 



PERCY F. BUN YARD, r.z.s., m.b.o.u. 



My first introduction to the Dartford Warbler {Sylvia 

 undata dartfordiensis) was in 1906 in one of the home 

 counties. Since then I have had exceptional oppor- 

 tunities of studying this most interesting bird, and some 

 forty pairs in four widely separated localities in the 

 south of England have come under my observation, 

 and in each season a considera<ble time has been spent 

 among them. 



With regard to their general habits it is difficult to 

 dogmatize, as hke many other species no two pairs 

 seem to behave in exactly the same manner. The 

 great difficulty in keeping such restless birds under 

 close observation for any length of time will be readily 

 appreciated by all those who know them, but if one 

 is fortunate in locating a pair with young still in the 

 nest, a good view of both old birds is assured, for one 

 may then hide within two or three yards of the nest 

 and after a few moments the birds will almost cease 

 " scolding " and resume their feeding operations. 

 Large and small moths, butterflies, " daddy-long-legs," 

 spiders, and larvae of many kinds, principally one of a 

 vivid green colour, are brought in large numbers by both 

 birds at frequent intervals, but the female is the more 

 active and will sometimes make two journeys to every 

 one made by the male, who occasionally bursts into 

 song until driven off to his parental duties by the female. 

 The sexes are easily distinguishable, the male being 

 larger and more brightly coloured and having darker 

 legs than the female. Sometimes the mandibles are 

 so loaded with food that the alarm-note becomes 

 almost inaudible and ludicrous. 



Another favourable time for watching these birds 

 is while they are building. Materials are brought at 



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