SYLVIA MELANOCEPHALA. 85 
24th of May. They chiefly fed in my garden for some months 
on the seed of the so-called " pepper-tree " {Schinus molle), 
in company with the Black-headed Warbler, and, to my sur- 
prise, with the Black Redstart; at least I saw the latter 
pecking at the seeds. 
The young males in winter have brown heads, like the 
females. The species may be distinguished at a glance from 
the other black- or dark-headed Warblers likely to be met 
with near Gibraltar by the absence of white on the tail. 
88. Sylvia ouphea, Temm. The Orphean Warbler. 
Andalucian. Canaria. 
" This Warbler passes by'^ Tangier in April and May to 
return in September, travelling in company with the White- 
throats. Is not common, and in some years scarcely met 
with." — Favier. 
I could not find the Orphean Warbler to be common near 
Gibraltar. I never had a specimen brought to me; nor did I 
succeed in getting it till the 17th of May, 1871, when I found 
a nest on a branch of a pine tree in the " Second Pine-wood." 
I shot both the old birds, which were very fearless, particu- 
larly the female, who contained an egg ready for exclusion. 
The nest had only three eggs in it, and was badly built, being 
composed of grass and lichens. I imagine that this Warbler 
must chiefly pass further to the east. They nest around Seville 
and are common about Madrid ; but I could not ascertain that 
they bred near Tangier. 
It is at once distinguished from Curruca atricapilla by the 
tail, which has the two outside feathers on each side tipped 
with white, and the exterior web also white. The legs are 
bluish, the irides yellow. The bird is also slightly shorter 
than the Blackcap. 
89. Sylvia melanocephala, Gm. The Black-headed 
Warbler. 
Moorish. Shorrir {Favier). 
" This Warbler is resident and very abundant near Tangier ; 
some migrate, crossing the Straits during February and 
