58 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



cap like the females. In our race of Blackcap 

 the diversity of the sexes is very noticeable, 

 even in nestlings." 



Captain Beavan, in the article before referred 

 to, says : " Specimens of the Orphean Warbler, 

 procured on the 22nd of October, had no trace 

 whatever of a black head, and were considered 

 by Colonel Tytler to be the young of the year; 

 but in my opinion the state of the plumage was 

 not sufficiently juvenile ; and I think that the 

 old birds adopt a different colouring according 

 to the time of year, probably putting on the 

 black head as the breeding season approaches." 

 To this observation the editor of the " Ibis " 

 appended the following note : "That this view of 

 the case is correct there is probably little doubt 

 {cf. Von der Miihle, ' Monogr. Europ. Sylv.,' 



p. 48)." 



From these observations it was. surmised 

 that the same might be the case with the 

 Blackcap. 



