BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



91 



Blachcap Marblcn 





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The Blackcap Warbler {Sylvia atricapilla, Linnaeus) is a 

 summer visitor to the British Islands, being generally, 

 although somewhat locally, distributed throughout England 

 and Wales. It becomes rarer in Scotland, and in Ireland 

 is very sparingly dispersed. It is a resident in Southern 

 Europe, also in the northern parts of Africa, and in 

 summer extends northwards through the temperate regions 

 of Europe. The adult male in summer has the forehead, 

 crown, and occiput, black ; general colour of upper 

 parts, bluish-grey, slightly tinged with olive-brown, most 

 prominently on the margins of i:)rimaries and tail-feathers ; 

 throat and under parts, greyish-ash ; chin and belly, 

 paler ; irides, hazel ; bill, horn colour ; legs and feet, lead 

 colour. Length, about five inches. The adult female 

 has the top of the head reddish-brown ; remainder, browner 

 than the male. 



