124 Mr. D. A. Bannerman on the [Ibis, 



a name which is united with S. a. heineken (the Madeiran 

 fonu) by Ilaitert in his Vog. pal. Faun. i. p. 585. 



Migratory specimens of S. a. atricapilla are said invariably 

 to possess a thick layer of fat over the body (Orn. Jahrb. 

 1910, p. 91), and, as already mentioned, may further be 

 distinguished from the resident race by the character given 

 above. I have never, however, been able to distinguish the 

 migratory Blackcaps myself when in the islands. A series 

 of breeding Canarian birds must be examined before the 

 question of the Canarian race can be finally settled. 



Meade-Waldo was the first to point out (Ibis, 1893, 

 p. 189) that large numbers of migratory Blackcaps arrived 

 in the islands in autumn. 



Von Thanner has also noted the fact and records : — 



15 March, 1904. " Killed a 2 '^' ntricapilla citricapilla, aud later saw 

 again some males passing through Fuerteventiira on 

 migration " (Orn. Jahrb. 1905, p. 65). And the fol- 

 lowing year : 



14 March, 1905. "Numerous Blackcaps passing in Fuerteventura '' (Orn. 

 Jahrb. 1908, p. 213). 

 1 April, 1912. Recorded by von Thanner, again from Fuerteventura 

 (Orn. Jahrb. 1912, p. 227 — ' Monchgrasmucken '). 



And in the spring of 1909 he saw many migrants of 

 the European race in Gran Canaria (Orn. Jahrb. 1910, 

 p. 91). 



Range. S. a. atricapilla breeds throughout the countries 

 of Europe and winters in Africa. From the north-west 

 and west Alrican coasts there are specimens in the British 

 Museum from Tangier, the Azores, and the river Gambia ; 

 and from Abyssinia, Somaliland, British East Africa, and 

 Ruwenzori on the east. There are no west African 

 specimens in the Tring Museum. 



Sylvia atricapilla obscura. Dusky Blackcap. 

 Sylvia atricapilla obscura Tschusi, Orn. Monatsb. ix. 

 1901, p. 129— Type locality: Madeira. 

 A Resident subspecies. 



