THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA, 391 
12th. There is however no evidence of its breeding in our area. It returns 
about the first week in September and the last record is November 3rd. Zarudny 
Says it occurs in winter, but of this we have no record, 
Five specimens examined: 6, Amara, 12-6-18, 4, 3-9-18, 9, 11-5-18 (P. 
A.B.); 3, Qualet Saleh, 28-5-18 (P. Z.C. and R.E. C.); Adhaim, 3-11-17 
(CR, P.). 
These appear to be perhaps a trifle greyer on the back than most specimens. 
Witherby also noted that one from Central Westcrn Persia was rather paler and 
larger (wing 80). There are however many British ones as large as this. Johansen 
has described a pale race, pallida from Barnaul in W. Siberia and possibly this 
is a recognisable form, but until one can sec a series thence it is impossible to say. 
89. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla. 
Sylvia atricapilla, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. X, p. 187, 1758—Sweden). 
This species also is a passage migrant and seems to be much commoner in 
spring than in autumn. A few arrive towards the end of March, earliest March 
24th, but it is not common until the first week in April during which month a 
good many pass through, and the passage lasts till mid-May, the latest the 18th. 
There are but few autumn records ; Tomlinson noted it on autumn passage and 
Cumming records that it passes through in September and October, Logan Home 
saw it at Basra on September 26th. Zarudny says it isa winter visitor as well 
as a passage migrant. 
Seven specimens examined: ¢, Amara, 12-5-18, 16-4-18 ; 2, 21-4-18, 12-4-18, 
17-4-18 (P. A. B.); 3d, Sheik Saad, 1-4-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.); @, Basra, 
18-5-18 (Venning). 
These are not to be differentiated from West European birds. 
90. Common Whitethroat. Sylvia communis. 
Sylvia communis icterops, Ménétr. (Cat. Rais. Caucase, p. 34, 1832— 
Talysch). 
The Common Whitethroat occurs in fair numbers on both passages ; first 
_ noted at Sheik Saad on April 7th when it was plentiful, individuals only halting 
a few hours ; the passage lasts throughout April and well into May, as Cheesman 
obtained it at the oasis of Shaiba on May 25th and at Ahwaz on the 22nd. It 
returns again at the end of August and during September ; last record 23rd. 
Cheesman noted that males were in song at Baghdad on April 27th, but there 
is no evidence of this species breeding. 
Eleven specimens examined: Amara, 18-9-18; 3, 4-5-18, 9, 15-5-18(P. A. B.); 
3, Khazimain, 26-4-19, 9, Shaiba, 25-5-17, 23-9-16, 8-9-16 ; Ahwaz, 22-5-17 
(P.Z.C. and R.E.C.); Feluja, 8-5-17 (C.R.P.); Basra, 3-5-19 (L. Home). 
Suleimania, 4-9-19 (Ross). 
All belong to the eastern race icterops with the back and rump greyer, and the 
paler rusty edgings to the wings. 
g1. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca. 
Sylvia curruca curruca, I. (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 184, 1758—Sweden). 
Another common migrant on both passages, arriving rather earlier than the 
Common Whitethroat, and is widely distributed. First noted March 19th at 
Basra, it mostly arrives from the first week in April onwards up till the first 
week in May. Cumming records one at Fav on August 16th, but the main passage 
appears to last from the middle of September to mid-October. Zarudny says it 
is a winter visitor as well as a passage migrant. I can only remark that in this 
as in many other cases Zarudny’s records are totally at variance with ours, 
Twelve specimens examined: Amara, 16-4-18, 5-4-18, 25-10-17. 2, 3-4-18, 
29-9-18 (three). gd, 17-10-18 (P. A. B.); Feluja, 2-5-17 (C. R. P.) ; Shaiba, 23-9-16 ; 
Sheik Saad, 23-3-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Basra, 18-9-19. 
