596 
Mr. J. A. Bucknill on the 
1 , -w . V . Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.). 
The Blackcap is an exceedingly common migrant, arriving 
during March ; some stay and nest, but the great majority 
quickly move north. The return passage takes place in 
September and the beginning of October. 
My first note of its appearance is the 6th of March, but 
this is very early and I do not think that the bulk arrive 
until towards the end of that month, when there is usually 
a heavy rush of migrating vernal arrivals. Those which do 
not remain do not stay later than the middle of April. 
Glasznertook specimens in March, April, August, September, 
and October; and Mr. Baxendale, Horsbrugh, and I found the 
bird in plenty even up to the 28th of April, 1909. Horsbrugh 
and I discovered it nesting on the Kyrenia Hills early in 
May, and on the 1st found a nest with young—not remark¬ 
ably early, in view of the advanced state of summer which 
obtains in Cyprus at that date. My first record of the 
return migration is the 5th of September; but this is again 
early, as the bulk do not reappear until towards the end of 
that month ; by the middle of October or thereabouts they 
have again passed on south, and I have not noticed any 
during the winter months. Perhaps the chief interest which 
locally attaches to this bird lies in the fact that it is the 
species which forms the main strength of the u Beccaficos,” 
the capture and sale of which have for so many centuries 
formed quite a small trade in the island. Until quite 
recently much uncertainty existed as to the actual species 
which was the victim of this petty commerce : the early 
writers mostly seem to have thought that it was the Ortolan, 
but Lord Lilford was assured that it was the Garden-Warbler. 
Glaszner pointed out to Madarasz that the bird utilized was 
the “ Blackcap,” and explained that, naturally, other species 
were sometimes captured and made use of with it, such 
as S. melanothorax, S. melanocephala , S. hortensis , and, in the 
mountainous districts, even the Great and Coal Titmice. I 
have no doubt that he is right, but though I took the trouble 
to examine perhaps two hundred of these birds taken 
in September 1908, I found them all Blackcaps. The 
