24 Canon H. B. Tristram — Oimitholotjical 



not found^ so far as I am aware, on any of the other western 

 islands. Mr. Meade-Waldo met with it in Fuerteventura, 

 but neither he nor I in Tenerife or Gomera. Webb and 

 Berthelot do not notice it. In Canaria it is far from 

 numerous, though the shepherd boys know it and distinguish 

 it from the Pipit. The Hoopoe frequently made his bow to 

 us on the top of a boulder. He is only a spring and summer 

 migrant, but very abundant on all the islands during the 

 season. 



One of my most interesting expeditions was a ramble of 

 four days to the south of the island, returning over the 

 highest mountain-passes in the very centre, back by San 

 Mateo to Las Palmas. We drove by the coast to Aguimes, 

 near the S.E. corner of the island, where we had wretched 

 quarters in a loft, swarming with vermin, the only comfort- 

 less night I experienced in any of the islands. On the way, 

 near Telde, I made acquaintance with an old Algerian and 

 Syrian friend, the Spectacled Warbler, which seemed to be 

 just returning to its summer-quarters. After this date it 

 occurred everywhere in suitable localities, and I secured 

 specimens in all three islands. It does not ascend very high, 

 but inhabits the low scrub up to about 2500 feet, aflFecting 

 especially the dry hill-sides and the Euphorbia bushes, in 

 which it builds close to the ground. When we reach the 

 higher elevations its place is taken by the little skulking 

 Sylvia melanocephala, not so easily seen though often heard. 

 Webb and Berthelot notice the Spectacled Warbler, under 

 the name of Sylvia passerina, as common in all the islands, 

 and give a very accurate description of its habits and nidifi- 

 cation. Subsequent writers have identified Webb and Ber- 

 thelot^s S. passerina with the Subalpine Warbler, ^S^. sub- 

 alpina, Bonelli [cf. Ibis, 1872, p. 175), and have given the 

 latter as inhabiting all the islands on their authority. No 

 one, however, has as yet found the Subalpine Warbler in the 

 group, and it is impossible that Webb and Berthelot could 

 have overlooked the Spectacled, even had not their descrip- 

 tion been vmmistakable. We may therefore eliminate the 

 Subalpine ^^'arblcr from the Canary list. 



