434 Captain S. G. Reid on the Birds of Teneriffe. 



With regard to the two Swifts found in Teneriffe, I think 

 I may safely assert that Cypselus pallidus is stationary all 

 the year round. I observed several the day I landed, 4th 

 February, and was told by all my ornithological friends in 

 the island that they were to be seen throughout the winter. 

 Up to the 5th April no example of the other species (C. uni- 

 color) was met with, but on that day young Baeza shot one 

 and brought it to me. That both breed in Teneriffe is, I 

 think, certain. 



The FringiUida are numerous in the island, though the 

 actual number of species is comparatively small. Foremost 

 among these is, of course, the Canary [Serinus canarius), 

 which, with the exception of Anthus bertheloti, is the com- 

 monest bird of all. It is truly a sweet songster, fully 

 deserving its reputation ; and to lie awake in the early hours 

 of a March morning, with one's window open (think of that, 

 ye shivering Britons !), listening to the "real wild'' Canaries 

 singing in the garden close by, is alone worth a journey to 

 these '' Fortunate " islands. 



Goldfinches and Linnets are numerous, and the Common 

 Bunting is a perfect nuisance there, as in many other places, 

 with its harsh spluttering attempt at song. The Azorean 

 Chaffinch [Frinc^illa tintUlon) is common at a slight eleva- 

 tion, but does not descend to the coast-line ; the male in 

 breeding-plumage is a very handsome bird. 



I was very sorry not to meet with the Teydean Chaffinch 

 (F. teydea), the most interesting bird in Teneriffe, though I 

 went to several likely places in search of it. The natives 

 could not tell me where these birds go to during the winter, 

 and it seems quite a mystery. Later on they appear in 

 certain places, and are comparatively easy to obtain. Baeza 

 and I carefully searched the pine-woods above La Guancha, 

 where Mr. Godman obtained his specimens in 1871; but we 

 never even heard the note of the "Pajaro azul," or " blue- 

 bird," as they call it. 



The Sparrow of Teneriffe is Petronia stulta, the Bock 

 Sparrow, which is to be seen about the towns and hamlets 

 and breeds m holes in the walls. Passer kispaniolensis has 



