Bh'ds of the Canary Islands. 515 



ripening. And I think the Tit breeding at a similar ele- 

 vation two months earlier than in Tenerife points to a dif- 

 ferent climate as well as to a different bird. The ChaflQnch, 

 also, was building a month earlier. 



In Tenerife I have recently come across many migrants, 

 some regular and some accidental. Among the regular 

 migrants 1 may mention the Land-Rail; it is decidedly rare, 

 but is known to many by the name of " Rey de Codornices.^* 

 The Sky Lark {Alauda arvensis) is not rare in winter on the 

 Laguna plains, and is distinguished as " Alondra" from the 

 summer visitor, " Calandra " ( Calandrella minor) . The Desert 

 Short-toed Lark, the Peewit, and the Starling are regular 

 visitors in flocks. The Song Thrush swarmed in the moun- 

 tains this last winter, but the migratory Blackbirds did not 

 seem to get here, as there was apparently only the usual 

 number of these birds. I have never seen Thrushes lower 

 than about 2000 feet. 



At Laguna, Don Anatael Cabrera, who is much interested 

 in the birds of this island, showed me, skinned and stuffed by 

 himself, specimens of the Short-eared Owl {Asio accipitrinus) , 

 the Roller {Coracias garrula) (this last is not very uncommon 

 at migration-time), tlie Black Redstart {Ruticilla titys), the 

 Tree Pipit {Anthus trivialis), the Wood Warbler [Phyllo- 

 scopus sibilatinx), the Calandra Lark, the Woodchat Shrike, 

 and the Pine Wheatear (Saxicola isabeUina) . I saw flocks 

 of Dotterels {Eudromias morinellus) one day close to the road 

 just outside Laguna, and had a good look at them, and the 

 same day I saw some Ruffs. I had shot a Ruff at Orotava 

 a few days previously out of a small flock. I had a good 

 look at a Honey Buzzard [Pernis apivorus), and was quite 

 certain as to the species. In February a small flock of Po- 

 chards (Fuligula ferina) frequented the tanks near the Bota- 

 nical Gardens, three of which were shot. I have one that was 

 shot by Mr. Nash, the chaplain, as it flew over the " Azotea.^' 

 The Swifts have not behaved this year as they did last. 1 

 saw none until Christmas Day, and then only four [Cypselus 

 unicvlor) ; after that they were common, and on February 9th 

 I have a note of " Cypselus unicolor in large flocks screaming." 

 But the strange thing is that Cypselus pallidus never came at 



