143 
The Blackbird, which in some parts is very plentiful, does not differ 
from the English bird. 
The Black-cap Warbler, which is here the most domestic songster, 
has been sometimes called the Madeira Nightingale; there is a ful- 
ness in its warble which in a degree justifies such praise. A Ma- 
deiran variety of this bird has been described by Sir William Jardine * 
as a new species, under the name of Curruca Heinekeni; Dr. Heine- 
ken, however, in his paper on the subject in the ‘Zoological Journal,’ 
No. xvii. Art. xvii., disproves the supposition of its being a distinct 
species, and I am able to confirm the view that Dr. Heineken takes 
of it. The popular belief amongst the natives is, that where the nest 
of a “Tinto Negro” contains five eggs, the fifth always turns out a 
‘Tinto Negro de Capello.” The variety is much prized ; for where 
you could buy a common “Tinto Negro” for sixpence or a shilling, 
you would be asked eight or ten shillings for a “Tinto Negro de Ca- 
pello.” The size of the two birds is precisely the same in all parti- 
culars ; the chief difference consists in the black cap in the variety 
being extended to the shoulders, and I have sometimes seen the black 
extended over all the under parts: 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. 
The Wren is one of the prettiest feathered inhabitants of Madeira ; 
it lives amongst the laurel forests, in the less frequented parts of the 
island. It seems intermediate between the Gold and Fire-crested 
Wrens of Britain, and is a little larger and brighter than either. 
The Spectacle Warbler is very locally distributed ; it is found in 
brakes and bushes in some of the unfrequented parts. 
The Grey Wagtail is very common, frequenting the cisterns attached 
to houses, as well as the streams; where, from its familiar habits 
amongst the washerwomen, it has been admitted in Madeiran phraseo- 
logy into the ranks of the sisterhood, under the title of ‘‘ Lavandeira.”’ 
The Meadow Pipit is plentifully found on the cliffs and fields near 
the sea, and on the serras. 
The Green Canary is the original stock of the bird so well known 
to us as the Yellow Canary ; it flies about in large flocks, with linnets 
and other birds, and is easily distinguished by its song, which is the 
same as that of the captive variety. The price of a good singing ca- 
nary, either in Madeira or the Canary islands, varies from five to nine 
shillings, so that in fact it may be bought much cheaper in London. 
This bird has been admirably described by Dr. Heineken, in the 
‘Zoological Journal,’ No. xvii. Art. xvii. 
The Goldfinch is very common, and differs in no respect from our 
own. 
The Ring Sparrow here takes the place, in a way, of our House 
Sparrow: it is universal; on the bleak serras, near houses, on the 
rocks by the sea; there is no place that it does not frequent. It 
differs thus in habits, though in nothing else, from the Ring Sparrow 
of Europe. 
* Edinb. Journ. of Nat. and Geog. Science, Jan. 1830, vol. i. p. 243. 
