52 TUKD1D.E. 



being seen on all sides during migration, passing north in 

 January and February, returning in October. Many remain to 

 nest." Favier. 



The Blackcap is to be seen during every month in the year, 

 but is, of course, most common in February and October. They 

 sometimes nest on the Rock, always plentifully in the Cork-wood. 

 The young have been seen fully able to fly on the 24th of May. 

 Verner found a nest with three eggs on the 15th of March, 1877, 

 in the Convent Garden, and a nest with four hard-set eggs on the 

 16th of March, 1880, in the Mount Garden. They chiefly fed 

 in my garden for some time on the seed of the so-called " pepper- 

 tree " (Schinus molle), in company with Black-headed Warblers, 

 and, to my surprise, with the Black Redstart ; at least the latter 

 were seen pecking at the seeds. 



The species may be distinguished at a glance from the other 

 black-headed Warblers met with near Gibraltar by the absence 

 of white on the tail. 



General colour above ashy brown ; chin and throat bluish grey ; tail without 

 any white. 



Male. Head black. Length 5| inches. 

 Female. Head rufous. Length 6 inches. 



29. Sylvia orphea, Temmiuck. The Western Orphean 

 Warbler. 



Andalucian. Canaria. 



"This Warbler passes by Tangier in April and May to return 

 in September, travelling in company with the Whitethroats. 

 Is not common, and in some years scarcely met with." Favier. 



The Orphean Warbler did not appear to be common near 

 Gibraltar, and I could not get any till the 17th of May, 1871, 

 when I found a nest on a branch of a pine-tree in the " Second 

 Pine-wood," and shot both the old birds, which were very fearless, 

 especially the female, who contained an egg ready for exclusion. 

 The nest had only three eggs in it, and was badly built, being 

 composed of grass and lichens. Verner found this Warbler on 



