SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA 91 



During the spring passage this species is very common in all the 

 southern oases, as well as in the gardens and orchards of the north 

 of the Eegency. The species is eminently a garden bird, and were 

 its own vernacular name not so appropriate, it might well lay claim 

 to that of tbe Garden-Warbler, whose song is certainly inferior to 

 that of tbe Blackcap. As a songster, indeed, S. atricajnUa has but 

 few superiors, or even rivals, and in Mediterranean countries it has 

 the additional charm of being one of the earliest birds to sing, its rich 

 mellow notes being sometimes heard long before the winter is over. 



In addition to the usual insect diet common to most Warblers, the 

 present species feeds largely upon fruit and berries of different kinds, 

 and it is no uncommon occurrence to find Blackcaps with the plumage 

 of their head and underparts tinged with the pollen of some plant 

 upon which they may have been feeding. The berries of the Tree- 

 privet {Ligiistnun japonicum), abundant in many Mediterranean 

 gardens, are greedily devoured by Blackcaps, and numbers of the 

 birds may often be seen together busily engaged in feeding upon this 

 fruit. The decaying seed-pods of various species of Yucca also seem 

 to have a particular attraction for these Warblers, as well as the 

 bright berries of the Pepper-tree {Schinus molle). 



I have never taken a nest of the Blackcap in Tunisia myself, but 

 Blanc tells me that it breeds in the north of the Eegency, and 

 Mr. Aplin certainly met with the species near Ghardimaou after the 

 middle of May, when it was presumably nesting. The nest, which is 

 generally placed in a low tree or bush, is composed almost entirely of 

 dry bents, with a little horse-hair. The eggs, four or five in number, 

 are of a pale brown, clouded and spotted with a darker shade of brown. 

 Their average measurements are 18 X 1-5 mm. Occasionally eggs are 

 found with a pink hue. 



In Madeira and the Azores a variety of the Blackcap occurs in 

 which the black colouring of the head in the male bird extends to the 

 shoulders and under the throat. This form has been described as 

 distinct from typical S. atricapilla under the name of Curruca 

 heinekeni, Jardine (Edin. Journ. Nat. and Geogr. Sci. i, p. 243). 

 Females of this variety are also met with, but are much rarer 

 than tbe males." There is an example from Madeira in the British 

 Museum collection. 



Another insular form has recently been described as subspecifically 

 distinct from S. atricapilla by Prof. Arrigoni, who finds that the 



