Mr. E. V. Harcourt on the Ornithology of Madeira. 431 



sideration compared with its geographical position : accordingly, 

 Madeira, which possesses a range of, at most, thirty-three miles 

 in length by fourteen miles in breadth, rises in interest when we 

 come to view its intermediate situation between the northern 

 and southern hemispheres. 



The Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, Linn.) is here very familiar in 

 its habits, and may be seen perched on the roofs of houses in 

 the very centre of the town of Funchal ; it preys upon the com- 

 mon lizard of the country [Lacerta DugeSy Edw.), on grasshoppers 

 and mice, and occasionally succeeds in snatching the tame canary- 

 birds from between the bars of their reed cages as they hang 

 exposed at the open windows. 



The common Buzzard {Falco buteo, Linn.) is plentifully met 

 with in the mountains, and the traveller may sometimes come 

 close upon it as he rounds the corner of a projecting rock. 



The Barn Owl {Stria: flammea, Linn.), which is somewhat 

 darker than English specimens of the same bird, inhabits some 

 of the more sombre ravines of the island, though it is by no 

 means a numerous species. 



The Blackbird {Turdus merula, Linn.) is common in all the 

 woody districts, and is as wary and difficult of access as with 

 us. 



The Redbreast {Sylvia rubecula, Lath.) is also very common, 

 and is a great favourite with bird-fanciers in Madeira : it sings 

 and thrives in captivity. 



The Black-cap Warbler {Sylvia atricapilla, Lath.) bears cap- 

 tivity equally well with the Redbreast, and is to be seen hanging 

 caged at almost every door. The variety of this species, which 

 has been alluded to above, is much prized on account of its less 

 common occurrence. Dr. Heineken, after whom the variety was 

 named by Sir W. Jardine under the title of Curruca Heineken^ 

 wrote a paper* expressing his conviction that this was not a 

 distinct species. The chief difference consists in the extension of 

 the black colour from the cap to the shoulders, and sometimes 

 even over all the under parts : the dimensions of this bird and 

 of the common Black-cap are precisely the same : in the variety, 

 the under parts are generally much the same as those of the 

 common female Black -cap, and the upper parts as those of the 

 common male. I have repeatedly endeavoured to find a nest sat 

 upon or attended by this darker Black-cap, and have also offered 

 rewards to the country folks if they could discover one, but 

 have always failed. The popular belief is, that when the nest of 

 the common Black-cap contains five eggs, one of them will pro- 

 duce a bird of the variety. I have also failed in obtaining a 



* Zool. Joura. No. 17. Art. 17. 



