DARTFORD WARBLER 
SYLVIA PROVINCIALIS. 
TnorGii scarcely to be considered rare, the present species is decidedly local. I have only met with it in the 
south-eastern counties. 
A few years back, Dartford Warblers were to be found in many of the large patches of furze scattered 
over the South Downs ; but the eonstant demand for their nests and eggs by collectors and dealers has, as might 
have been expeeted, at length thinned down their numbers considerably, and many of their former haunts are 
now deserted. There are, however, still colonies to be met with, as on the only oceasion I closely searched one 
of their favourite resorts among the hills, during the season of 1882, I notieed three separate pairs, and 
doubtless there were others in the district. Being remarkably shy, these birds are liable to escape observation, 
as on the slightest signs of danger they immediately seek the shelter of the densest bushes. In order to gain 
an insight into the habits of many of our small birds, it is neeessary to reaeh the loealities they frequent 
shortly after daybreak. Before the sun is fairly uj), several speeies, whose very existenee would never be 
reeognized during a midday visit to their quarters, may, if care is exercised, be closely watched and their 
actions studied. In the early morning the note of the male, which somewhat resembles that of the 
Whitethroat, may be constantly heard, the bird mounting at short intervals to the tojimost twigs of the 
furze and flitting from bush to bush. 
In the winter, though they perform no extended journeys, these birds give evidenee of a roving disposition. 
I have repeatedly come across a pair or two among the stunted thorn bushes and straggling furze on the 
beach between Eastbourne and Pevensey ; and when rabbit-shooting further inland, stray birds were oeca- 
sionally driven out by the beagles from cover where the species was seldom, if ever, found during the summer 
months. To the best of my reeolleetion, I have never seen the Dartford Warbler at any eonsiderable distance 
from furze ; I mention this faet, as some aecounts published eoncerning the loealities in whieh these birds have 
been met with would almost lead to the belief that tlie Hedge-Sparrow * has been mistaken for this species. 
The nest, Avhich is eonstructed of dried grass and roots, is usually placed in a thick furze bush, and is by 
no means easy to discover, unless the old birds are carefully watched. If deprived of their first nest, one 
pair will continue attempting to rear a brood till late in the season, even after having been robbed of three 
or four sets of eggs. By the end of summer the male and female have in most cases worn their plumage 
considerably. A pair shot in July would present a very diffin-ent appearance to specimens obtained in April, 
before the cares of providing for their families had removed the gloss from their feathers. I remarked the 
young were repeatedly fed on the bodies of moderately sized buff or pale yellow-coloured moths. The wings of 
these insects bad been removed, but I am of opinion they belonged to the species known as Leucania pallens. 
I particularly noticed that the birds hunted for their prey among the lower portions of the stems of the old 
dead furze. 
* One of these birds moving stealthily through cover or darting rapidly across a track much resembles this Warbler. 
