THE BLACKCAP 



SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A common and widely 

 distributed summer visitor, but becoming local in Scot- 

 land and Ireland. Occasionally met with during winter. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : Whether the more conspicuous appearance of 

 the Blackcap has anything to do with the widely prevail- 

 ing opinion that this bird is commoner than the Garden 

 Warbler in the Metropolitan area I am not prepared to 

 say. Whatever may be the reason, it is reported as 

 more or less numerous in every suitable part of London's 

 extensive suburbs. Its breeding-places, of course, in the 

 most central localities are few, Dulwich, perhaps, being 

 the nearest point to St. Paul's, or even possibly Battersea 

 and Regent's Parks. On migration the Blackcap may 

 appear in any of the urban parks ; I have records from 

 Hyde Park ; but its visit is transient, and may be generally 

 overlooked. In the more rural suburbs, such as Croy- 

 don, Norwood, Streatham, Wimbledon, Richmond, Kew, 

 Ealing, Wembley, Willesden, Barnet, Enfield, Waltham, 

 Epping, Ilford, and Bromley, the bird is fairly numerous, 

 but decreasing in some places where the builder is becom- 

 ing too aggressive. Beyond these limits, again, in the 

 still more rural and quieter localities the species becomes 

 generally dispersed, and in some parts may be classed 

 as quite a common bird. Notwithstanding the Wild 

 Birds Protection Acts, many Blackcaps are still caught in 

 the environs of London. More's the pity ! 



The breaking up for building purposes of so many 

 beautiful rural spots in the suburbs of London is causing 

 the Blackcap and many other charming birds to decrease 

 sadly in numbers. The destruction of Wembley Park 



78 ' 



