366 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



(rare casual visitor to Scilly Isles), nor in parts of Pembroke, and 

 rare Anglesey and west Carnarvon. Scotland. Rather local in 

 Solway area, common in Clyde and Forth areas, and in south 

 Perths., north of which not known to breed, and has rarely occurred. 

 In Shetlands, one Aug., one Oct., several May and June. In Fair 

 Isle fairly common on both spring- and autumn -passages, and in 

 Orkneys occurs frequently in autumn but seldom recorded in 

 spring. In 0. Hebrides, one seen Flannans (Sept.), two obtained 

 Barra (Oct. & Nov.), several St. Kilda (Sept.), one Lewis (Aug.). 

 Ireland. Very local, unknown in most districts, but nests in various 

 localities in all four provinces, but chiefly near the Shannon. 



MIGRATIONS. Great Britain. Summer-residents begin to arrive 

 end second week April (early dates March 25, 31, April 5 & 6), and 

 main body in last week April up to end May. Passage-migration 

 east coast from first week May to second week June. Southward 

 movement of summer -residents begins early Aug., larger number 

 leaving mid-Sept, becoming merged with passage-migrants that 

 pass down east coast from early Sept. (in some years early Aug.) 

 to first few days Oct. Occasional later stragglers Oct. 9-26. 

 (Late date Nov. 10, 1913 Essex.) 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Europe generally (except extreme north) 

 as far south as northern Spain in west, and Albania in east ; from 

 Russia eastwards to Persia, Transcaspia, and west Siberia. Winters 

 in Africa. Casual Maderia ; occasional Canaries. Breeding in Syria 

 is asserted, but requires confirmation. 



SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA 



154. Sylvia atricapilla atricapilla (L.) THE BLACKCAP. 



MOTACILLA ATRICAPILLA Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 187 (1758 

 " Habitat in Europa." Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 

 Sylvia atricapilla Linnaeus, Yarrell, i, p. 418 ; Saunders, p. 47. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 12). -Adult male. Winter. Fore-head and 

 whole crown jet-black ; nape ashy -grey with occasionally a brownish 

 or dusky tinge ; rest of upper-parts uniform greyish olive-brown ; 

 lores, ear -coverts, sides of neck and sides of throat ash-grey ; chin, 

 centre of throat and breast paler ash-grey, chin and throat often 

 silvery ; lower-breast and belly white ; flanks grey tinged olivaceous ; 

 under tail-coverts and axillaries dark grey with white tips and 

 fringes ; tail-feathers greyish-black, outer webs fringed olive- 

 brown ; wing-feathers greyish-black, inner webs fringed white, 

 outer webs olive-brown, those of outer primaries being more 

 greyish ; primary-coverts greyish-black fringed and tipped grey ; 

 rest of coverts with fringes and tips greyish olive-brown as mantle. 

 This plumage is acquired by complete moult July-Sept. Summer. 



