DENTIROSTRES. 
131 
“ The Dartford Warbler, like the white-throat, will sometimes sus- 
pend itself on wing- over the furze, singing- the whole time, but is more 
frequently observed on the uppermost spray, in vocal strain for half an 
hour together. 
‘‘ Biiffon, who appears to have been the first, if not the only person 
on the Continent, who knew any thing of the Dartford Warbler as a 
naturalist, seems to have known very little more than that such a bird 
existed, and that it had been found in Provence, (as his name of Le 
Pitchou de Provence evinces,) but he knew nothing of its habits. If he 
had not figured in it Pla. enl, 655, f. i. it would scarcely be conceived 
that the history given by that author could be intended for this species. 
‘‘ These birds are not, as we at first supposed, confined to the south of 
Devon, contiguous to the coast, but have been observed in the more 
central parts of that county. In the autumn of 1809, several were 
noticed by Mr. Comyns, at least fifteen miles north of Exeter, amongst 
furze, one of which was shot, and sent to us for examination. 
“ We find, by recent observation, the Dartford Warbler is rather an 
early breeder, so that they either breed twice in the summer, or some 
accident must have caused their breeding so late as that before men- 
tioned. In 1805, we observed a pair of these birds carrying food in 
their bills early in the month of May ; from which, and their continual 
vociferations, there could be no doubt of their having- young, and it was 
also evident the young had quitted their nest, and were sculking 
amongst the thick furze. Carefully did we examine every part for the 
nest, where the birds were most clamorous, but in vain; but there was 
no doubt that the young- were frequently very near, by the temerity of 
the parent birds. The artifices these little creatures made to induce 
us to follow them, in order to entice us from the spot, were highly 
amusing. Their usual cry was changed into a scream of distress ; they 
would almost suffer the hand to touch them, and then fall from the 
spray, and tumble along the ground, as if fluttering in their last struggle 
for existence.” 
Mr. Sweet says, “it is occasionally met with on Bexley Heath, near 
Dartford, Kent ; and also on Blackheath, and on Wandsworth and 
Wimbledon Common, where it is said to build in the furze bushes.” 
Mr. Bennet, the Vice-Secretary of the Zoological Society, had recently 
a pair of nestlings from the latter place, but they did not hve long. 
I have once seen a pair on the wing on Shooters’ Hill, and another 
singing on Blackheath.* 
DAW. — -A name for the Jack Daw. 
DENTIROSTRES (Cuvier.) — * A group of birds whose bills are 
indented or toothed.* 
