i l l
DARTFORD WARBLER.
FURZE WREN.
Sylvia provincialis, SCHLEGEL.
Sylvia Darifordi,nsis, LATHAM.
Jlfo/acilla provincialis, GMELIN.
Mflizophilus p/vvincialis, SSLBY.
Curruca provincialis, FLEMING.
Sylvia. Sylva—A wood. Provincialis—Provincial.
I N Spain, Italy, and the south of France this species is met with.
The earliest specimen noticed in Britain was obtained on 1 I e \ l e \
Heath, near Dartford, in Kent, in April, 1773, and it thence derived
its Anglican name. The circumstance was first made known by Dr.
Latham, and Pennant recorded it in the 'British Zoology' published in
1776. Since then the bird has been repeatedly met with in various
parts of the south of England, occurring on most of the furze-clad
commons of Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex; at Blackheath, Barnes
Common, Burwood Common, St. George's Hill, AVimbledon Common,
Wandsworth Common, Godalming, and Shooter's Hill; in Devonshire,
near Teignmouth, Kingsbridgo, in the furze-brakes on Dartmoor, .and
to the north of Exeter; Truro, Falmouth, and Penzance, in Cornwall;
Alton and Andover, in Hampshire; in Worcestershire; Melton
Mowbray, in Leicestershire1 ; the Downs near Lewes, Sussex, in September,
1850; and near Chichester, as A. Fuller, Esq., of Broyle
House, informs me—one in 1852, and five previously. A few have
been known to breed on Cannock Chace, Rugeley, Staffordshire, by
K. W. Hawkins, Esq.; and one has occurred on the Denes near Yarmouth,
Norfolk.
The Dartford Warbler is exclusively confined to heaths and commons,
the rough cover of such affording it the security that it desires.
These birds appear, ' sans doute,' to live with us throughout the
year, being seen even in mid-winter, as well as in the summer.