THE DARTFORD WARBLER 243 



bushes the very last time I went there, and I 

 daresay if you are patient enough you will see 

 quite as many." 



I assured him that there were no furze wrens 

 at the spot he had indicated, nor anywhere in 

 that neighbourhood, and I ventured to add that 

 he must be telling me of what he had witnessed 

 a good many years ago. " No, not so many," he 

 returned, "and I am astonished and grieved to 

 hear that the birds are gone — four or five years, 

 perhaps. No, it was longer ago. You are right 

 — I think it must be at least fifteen years since I 

 went to that spot the last time. I am not so 

 strong as I was, and for some years have not 

 been able to take any long walks." 



Fifteen years may seem but a short space 

 of time to a man verging on ninety ; in the 

 mournful story of the extermination of rare and 

 beautiful British birds for the cabinet it is in 

 reality a long period. Fifteen years ago the 

 honey buzzard was a breeding species in England, 

 and had doubtless been so for thousands of years. 

 When the price of a " British-kiUed " specimen 

 rose to £25, and of a "British -taken" egg to 

 two or three or four pounds, the bird quickly 



