THE BLACKCAP WARBLER 29 



entranced listening to its powerful cadence we may 

 notice the black-capped little musician quietly sitting 

 amongst the vernal foliage, with head turning from 

 side to side and throat bubbling with the exertion, 

 trying his hardest to drown the efforts of a rival 

 in a neighbouring tree. The modulations of the 

 song are exquisite. First, it may be, the song is 

 heard in a low key, as if the author of it were a 

 hundred yards away ; then gradually it becomes 

 louder and louder, giving us the impression that the 

 bird is coming nearer, until finally we are greeted 

 with a torrent of sound, as if Blackbird, Song 

 Thrush, Wren, Robin and Warbler were all singing 

 in concert. But the Blackcap has been stationary 

 all the time ; it may be not half-a-dozen yards away, 

 and in amazement we learn that this wondrous 

 music, now low and soft, anon rich and loud and 

 full, has issued from the same little throat at one 

 unchanging distance ! Next to the exceeding sweet- 

 ness of the song, the pertinacity of the singer is 

 sure to strike the observer. All through the balmy 

 days of April, May and June the song may be 

 heard, and not unfrequently it mingles with that 

 of the Nightingale and the Sedge Warbler during 

 the hot, sultry, summer night. Nay more, the 

 Blackcap occasionally sings whilst taking his turn 

 upon the eggs. At least one eminent authority 

 thinks this " hardly credible." But we can assure 

 the sceptics of the fact, after having watched the 



