30 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



bird so engaged, as we peeped between the under- 

 wood not six feet away, scarcely daring to breathe, 

 and seen the little singer, quite unconscious of our 

 presence, crouching low on the flimsy nest warbling 

 loudly with trembling throat and dark eyes flashing 

 defiance. It is said that the Blackcap sings during 

 the winter in the south of Europe, but this we think 

 is a mistake, for February (the date given) in Italy 

 is quite equal to April in England, so far as many 

 of the habits of birds are concerned. The Blackcap 

 is a very defiant singer, like the Robin in this 

 respect, brooking no rivals, and trying its best to 

 out-sing every other bird within hearing. It is at 

 these times that the song is heard to best advantage. 

 The call-note of this species is similar to the sound 

 produced by knocking two small pebbles together — 

 a clear tec or tack deliberately repeated. As soon 

 as the eggs are hatched the song of the Blackcap 

 begins to wane. 



Towards the end of April Blackcaps commence 

 nesting duties. The nest is a slight cup-shaped 

 structure made chiefly of dry grass-stalks, roots, cob- 

 webs and cocoons, and lined with a little horse-hair. 

 It is usually placed not far from the ground (from 

 three to ten or twelve feet) in thickets, in dense 

 hedges, gorse-bushes, or in holly and other low 

 trees. A site is often selected near to running water, 

 and the nest is not unfrequently slung in the 

 branches drooping over a stream. The eggs, laid 



