In  autumn  and  winter,  some  "  Dartfords,"  at
all  events,  relinquish  their  breeding-grounds  to
lead  a  nomadic  existence,  now  visiting  fields  of
"  roots,"  now  almost  any  sort  of  rough  ground
which  can  muster  a  few  bushes.  At  these  seasons
there  seems  to  be  some  inclination  on  the  birds'
part  to  lead  a  solitary  existence  and  frequent  the

B2


4      FIELD-STUDIES  OF  RARER  BIRDS

vicinity  of  the  coast.  Moreover,  from  having  on
several  occasions  seen  ' '  Dartfords  ' '  amongst  the
hordes  of  arriving  and  departing  small  birds  near
the  coast  in  spring  and  autumn,  I  am  tempted  to
believe  that  this  species  is  to  some  slight  extent
truly  migratory.  All  the  same,  many  "  Dart-
fords  '  are  true  to  their  nest-haunts  throughout
the  entire  year,  a  fact  easily  verified  when  hounds
are  drawing  gorse-coverts.  Everything  points  to
this  species  being  life-paired :  witness  a  couple
frequenting  the  same  spot  annually  ;  and  although
the  Dartford  Warbler  is  in  no  way  gregarious,  it
may,  in  a  sense,  be  termed  social,  seeing  that,  in  a
favourable  district,  quite  a  number  of  pairs  may  be
found  nesting  in  fairly  close  proximity.
