596 Mr. J. A. Rucknill on the 



12.2. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.). 



The Blackcap is aii exceedingly common migrant, arriving 

 during March ; some stay and nest, but the great majority 

 quickly move north. The return passage takes place in 

 September and the beginning of October. 



My first note of its appearance is the 6th of March, but 

 this is very early and I do not think that the bulk arrive 

 until towards the end of that month, -nheu there is usually 

 a heavy rush of migrating vernal arrivals. Those which do 

 not remain do not stay later than the middle of April. 

 Glasznertook specimens in March, April, August, September, 

 and October ; and Mr. Baxendale, llorsbrugh, and I found the 

 bird in plenty even up to the 28th of April, 1909. Horsbrugh 

 aiul I discovered it nesting on the Kyrcnia Hills early in 

 May, and on the 1st found a nest with young — not remark- 

 ably early, in view of the advanced state of summer which 

 obtains in Cyprus at that date. My Hrst record of the 

 return migration is the 5th of September; but this is again 

 early, as the bulk do not reappear until towards the end of 

 that month ; by the middle of October or thereabouts they 

 luivc again passed on south, and I have not noticed any 

 during the winter months. Perhaps the chief interest which 

 locally attaches to this bird lies in the fact that it is the 

 species Mhich forms the main strength ot tiie " Beccaficos," 

 the capture and sale of which have for so many centuries 

 formed quite a small trade in the island. Until quite 

 recently much uncertainty existed as to the actual species 

 Avhich was the victim of this petty commerce : the early 

 writers mostly seem to have thought that it was the Ortolan, 

 but Lord Lilford was assured that it Avas the Garden-Warbler. 

 Olaszner pointed out to Madarasz that the bird utilized was 

 the " Blackcap," and explained that, naturally, other species 

 were sometimes captured and made use of with it, such 

 as S. melanothorax, S. melanocephala, S. hortensis, and, in the 

 mountainous districts, even the Great and Coal Titmice. I 

 have no doubt that he is right, but though I took the trouble 

 to examine perhaps two hundred of these birds taken 

 in September 1908, 1 found them all Blackcaps. The 



