C l l l l T l ' l I A l T .
•tapaee 11 «r»t promised to bring us ID our destination before nightfall. Hot a bird, with the exception of
two or three Grey Crowi nnd a Peregrine, had eoma under observation liaoe leaving the loch-side. In
on old woalhcrbeaten lir in one of the pine forests, I well remembered tint, when lust in the district, mi
Eagle used to nest re;ulailv. On Instilling of my companion if the bird still resorted to the same spot,
he replied, after some slight hesitation, that in the preceding season the nest had been 'tampered with,'
and, tu the best of his lielirf, it was now untenanted. It was quite evident that Duncan knew more than he
chose to relate concerning the rubbery of tin' eggs ; but, from previous knowledge of his character. I was well
aware that there was more chance of hearing the true slory concerning the fact by assuming an utter indill'ereuce
to the subject. Consequently the next h'w hundred yards were passed in absolute silence. We wen- now
slowly climbing a steep rise ; and by the uuiul>er of times he turned his head towards the wood, I could see
poor Duncan was anxious to unburden his conscience of any participation he might have had in the crime.
At length, after a good deal of beating about the bush, he remarked that, early in the spring of the previous
year, he felt an irresistible inclination to become the possessor of an Eagle's egg—to use his own words,
uttered In a most deprecating manner, 'just to take an egg to myself.' In order to accomplish this object,
anil also to avoid being recognized in the locality, he crossed the country by a hill-track instead of following
the usual road, and, descending into the glen soon after dusk, reached the vicinity of the nest shortly before
midnight. The weather was fine and clear, and, being well acquainted with the country, be made his WSJ
rapidly through the wood, scarcely turning to the right or left till he stood within some sixty or seventy
yards of the tree. On casting his eyes upwards he was excessively startled on beholding close to the nest
the dark future of a human being clearly defined against the eastern sky. Hastily withdrawing into a deep
shadow cast by a large slab of rock, be watched the actions of the unknown slowly- descending limb by limb
from the tree. At last the descent was accomplished and the identity of the culprit at once revealed, as, while
retniciug his steps, be passed within three feet of the spot where my informant was in hiding. I shall not
readily forget Duncan's look of virtuous indignation while expatiating on the wickedness of this reprehensible
individual, who turned out to be a character I was well acquainted with, and who, if current reports were to
be credited, could scarcely tiud so trivial an indiscretion weigh heavily on his mind.
" A thick drifting mist which came on as we reached the low ground, and the wind rising rapidly in titful
gusts, plainly indicated that it would hi' useless to waste any lime in searching some very likely- cover wo
were now passing, on the chance of meeting with Warblers. By the time our quarters wen; reached the fine
rain had increased lo a set I led downpour, which continued till after sunset. The sput where (he birds had
been SITU was only about a mile distant, and, hoping for finer weather the following morning, we made
arrangements fur a start at daybreak.
" During the night the wind grew still more blusterous, and on turning out it was evident that all chance
of succi'ss was hopeless. After waiting an hour or two the pony was put to, and we made the best of our
way to the spot by the loch-side where we had halted on the previous day. Though remaining here for
three hours, I failed to recognize more than two or thn-e Warblers in even the most sheltered parts of the
woods. A couple that 1 shot, being unable to distinguish the species among the waving branches, turned
out to be a Willow-Wren and a Wood-Wren. Before reaching our journey's end we again pulled up, and I
closely examined some small birds noticed by the roadside; but, although Willow-Wrens were again met
with, my search for the Chitlchalf proved an utter failure."
In order that the nest and eggs, tin' situations resorted to for breeding-purposes, as well as the note and
general habits of this species might he compared with the manners and customs or the Willow-Wren, I have
brictly referred to those subjects under the heading of that Warbler.
DA RTFOR D WARBLER.
SYLVIA PROVINCIAL IS.
TIUH-GH scarcely to 1H' considered rare, the present species is decidedly local. I have only met with it in the
south-eastern counties.
A few years back, Hartford Warbler*, were to be found in many of the large patches of furze scattered
over the South Downs; but the constant demand for their nests and eggs by collectors and dealers has, as might
have been expected, at length thinned down their numbers considerably, and many of their former haunts are
now deserted. There arc, however, stdl colonies lo be met with, as on the only occasion I closely searched one
of their favourite resurts among the hills, during the scaRon of 1882, I noticed 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 necessary to reach the localities they frequent
shortly after daybreak. Before the sun is fairly up, several species, whose very existence would never bo
rccogiii/ed 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 inouuting at short intervals tu the topmost twigs of the
furze and Hitting from bush to hush.
In the winter, though they perform no extended journeys, these birds give evidence of a roving disposition.
I have repeatedly come across a pair or Iwo among the stunted thorn hushes and struggling furze on the
beach between Eastlwume and l'evensey ; and when rabbit-shooting further inland, stray birds were occasionally
driven out by the beagle* from cover where the species was seldom, if ever, found during the summer
luouthh. To the best of my recollection, I have never seen the Dartford Warbler at any considerable distance
from Turzc; I mention this fact, as some accounts published concerning the localities in which llicse birds have
been met with would almost lead to the belief that the Hedge-Sparrow * has been mistaken for lids species.
The nest, which is constructed of dried grass and roots, is usually placed in a thick furze bush, and is byno
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 iu the season, even after having been roblied of three
or four nets of eggs. By the end of summer the male and female have iu most cases worn their plumage
considerably. A pair shot in July would present a very different appearance to specimens obtained iu 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 bull' or pnle ycllow-eoloured moths. The wings of
these insects had been removed, but I am of opinion lliey belonged lo the species known as Lcitcaniii pnlleii*.
I particularly noticed that the birds hunted for their prey numug the lower portions of the steins of the old
dead furze.
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