600- Mr. D. A. Baunermau on the 



It is a remarkable fact that the Common Redbreast, 

 Erithacus rubecula, which is found in the neighbouring 

 islands of Gomera, Palma, and Hierro, is not found in 

 Gran Canaria or Tenerife, Erithacus rubecula superbus 

 taking its place in these two islands. 



Sylvia atricapilla. Blackcap. 



Sylvia atricapilla obscura Tchusi^ Orn. Monatsb. 1901, 

 p. 129*; Thanner, Orn. Jahib. xxi. p. 91 (1910) ; Hartert, 

 Vog. Pal. Faun. i. p. 585 (1910) (geographical form). 



a. c? . Santa Catalina Garden, Las Palmas. Dec. '08. 



b. S • Las Palmas. 11th Jan. '09. 



c. ? . Sauta Brigida. 5th Jan. '09. 



S. a. obscura Tschusi was supposed to be slightly more 

 dusky, but see Dr. Hartert's remarks, V()g. Pal. Faun. i. 

 p. 585. 



The " Capirote," as this bird is known locally, is, after the 

 Canary, the finest songster in the islands. It is to be 

 found in numbers in every garden, being confined chiefly to 

 the cultivated districts. In Las Palmas it is most con- 

 fiding, building its nest in numbers in the large grounds 

 of the Catalina Hotel. I examined one nest in another 

 garden built in a shrub within ten yards of the house. On 

 19th March (1910) I found a nest built in a thick prickly 

 bush ; it was composed largely of wool interwoven between 

 grass and lined entirely with hair ; the eggs, which were 

 four in number, were slightly incubated. 



One male example that I shot had the chin of a dull 

 chestnut-colour, which is said to be the result of the bird 

 feeding on oranges, but this is the only specimen I came 

 across with this peculiar marking. 



The Blackcap is resident in the island, but the numbers 

 are largely increased in the spring by migrants. Yon Thanner 

 notes that the migratory birds can easily be distinguished by 

 the thick layer of fat which is found on their skin. At 

 the beginning of June (1912) Blackcaps were more numerous 

 in the private gardens of Las Palmas than I had ever seen 

 them previously. 



