Birds of Gran Canaria. 603 



Phylloscopus rufus canariensis. Canarian Chiffchaff. 



PhyUopneuste nifa canariensis Hartwig, J. f. O. 188G, 

 p. 486 ^. 



Phylloscopus fortunatus Tristram, Ibis, 1889, p, 21. 



Phylloscopus rufus canariensis Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1901, 

 p. 32. 



Phylloscopus collybita canariensis Tliaiiner, Orn. Jalirli. 

 xxi. p. 91 (1910) ; Hartert, Vog. Pal. Faun. i. p. 504 (1910). 



a. $ . Santa Brigida. 4th Jan. '09. Wing 55 mm. 



b. S ■ Las Palmas. 6th Feb. '12. Wing 48 mm. 



c. ? Las Palmas. 12th Feb. '12. 



d. S' Las Palmas (Alcaravaneras). IGtli Feb. '12. 

 Wing 52 mm. 



€. The ''Charco," Maspalomas. 24th Feb. '12. 

 Wing 53 mm. 



Bill — upper mandible dark horn-brown, lower lighter ; 

 iris and feet dark brown. 



The ChifFchafFof the Canary Islands is distinguished from 

 P. ritfus by its smaller size, darker colouring throughout, and 

 the very different wing-formula, the wing being shorter and 

 more rounded than in the European species. The 2nd pri- 

 mary is extremely short, shorter than even the 8th. The 4th 

 and 5th primaries are the longest, the 3rd and 6th are 

 approximately equal in length. Wing-measurements are 

 given opposite the individual examples obtained. 



This is perhaps the commonest bird in the Canaries. Found 

 throughout the island, it is extremely tame, nesting freely in 

 the gardens and woods. Herr von Thanner (Orn. Jahrb. xxi. 

 p. 95) mentions that ^' there are no Chiff chaffs in the Pinar." 

 In this he is mistaken, as I have myself shot specimens above 

 the Cueva de las Ninas and have often both heard and seen 

 them in every part of the Pine Forest Avhich I have traversed. 

 The Chiffchaff breeds very early in Gran Canaria. A pair 

 were nesting under the eaves of a cottage near Santa Brigida, 

 and the little birds made free use of large pieces of cotton- 

 wool which were placed for them. 



In 1910 one pair built in a small fir-tree in a private 

 garden ; this nest was almost completed on February 2nd and 



