143 



The Blackbird, which in some parts is very plentiful, does not differ 

 from the English bird. 



The Black-cap Warbler, which is here the most domestic songster, 

 has been sometimes called the Madeira Nightingale ; there is a ful- 

 ness in its warble which in a degree justifies such praise. A Ma- 

 deiran variety of this bird has been described by Sir William Jardine "'' 

 as a new species, under the name of Curruca Heinekeni ; Dr. Heine- 

 ken, however, in his paper on the subject in the 'ZoologicalJournal,* 

 No. xvii. Art. xvii., disproves the supposition of its being a distinct 

 species, and I am able to confirm the view that Dr. Heineken takes 

 of it. The popular belief amongst the natives is, that where the nest 

 of a "Tinto Negro" contains five eggs, the fifth always tunis out a 

 "Tinto Negro de Capello." The variety is much prized ; for where 

 you could buy a common "Tinto Negro" for sixpence or a shilling, 

 you would be asked eight or ten shillings for a " Tinto Negro de Ca- 

 pello." The size of the two birds is precisely the same in all parti- 

 culars ; the chief difference consists in the black cap in the variety 

 being extended to the shoulders, and I have sometimes seen the black 

 extended over all the under parts : the under parts are generally much 

 the same as those of the common female Black-cap, and the upper 

 parts as those of the common male. 



The Wren is one of the prettiest feathered inhabitants of Madeira ; 

 it lives amongst the laurel forests, in the less frequented parts of the 

 island. It seems intermediate between the Gold and Fire-crested 

 Wrens of Britain, and is a little larger and brighter than either. 



The Spectacle Warbler is very locally distributed ; it is found in 

 brakes and bushes in some of the unfrequented parts. 



The Grey Wagtail is very common, frequenting the cisterns attached 

 to houses, as well as the streams ; where, from its familiar habits 

 amongst the washerwomen, it has been admitted in Madeiran phraseo- 

 logy into the ranks of the sisterhood, under the title of "Lavaadeira." 



The Meadow Pipit is plentifully found on the cliffs and fields near 

 the sea, and on the serras. 



The Green Canary is the original stock of the bird so well known 

 to us as the Yellow Canary ; it flies about in large flocks, with linnets 

 and other birds, and is easily distinguished by its song, which is the 

 same as that of the captive variety. The price of a good singing ca- 

 nary, either in Madeira or the Canary islands, varies from five to nine 

 shillings, so that in fact it may be bought much cheaper in London. 

 This bird has been admirably described by Dr. Heineken, in the 

 ' Zoological Journal,' No. xvii. Art. xvii. 



The Goldfinch is very common, and differs in no respect from our 

 own. 



The Ring Sparrow here takes the place, in a way, of our House 

 Sparrow : it is universal ; on the bleak serras, near houses, on the 

 rocks by the sea ; there is no place that it does not frequent. It 

 differs thus in habits, though in nothing else, from the Ring Sparrow 

 of Europe. 



* Edinb. Journ. of Nat. and Geog. Science, Jan. 1830, vol. i. p. 243. 



