342 SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA. 



but softer, more mellow, and more modulated than that of the 

 latter, and of more compass than that of the former. 



This species is shy and not easily discovered, as it lurks 

 among the bushes, seldom appearing in an open place. Its 

 favourite haunts are gardens, orchards, and thickets, where it 

 feeds on insects and larvae, as well as currants, strawberries, 

 rasps, and cherries. If pursued, it flits from bush to bush, but 

 seldom takes a long flight ; and although extremely lively and 

 agile, it has not the petulance of the White-throat, nor the pert- 

 ness of the Robin, but seeks to hide itself from the observation 

 of man, and is in all respects a solitary bird, more than two 

 adult individuals being seldom or never seen together. It 

 arrives in Scotland about the beginning of May, but in the 

 south of England early in April, and is found pretty exten- 

 sively distributed in the cultivated parts. Its song is continued 

 from the period of its arrival until the end of June, and, if de- 

 scription could convey an adequate idea of its character, is 

 worthy of the pen of a Wilson or an Audubon. And here it 

 may be not amiss to present the opinions of some of our best 

 observers respecting it. 



Montagu merely states that " it delights us with its charm- 

 ing melodious song, which is very little inferior to that of the 

 Nightingale, except in variety of notes." 



According to Sweet " the song of the Black-cap is very loud 

 and agreeable, and it has a great variety of notes; it is also a real 

 mock-bird, and will catch the notes of any bird that it chances 

 to hear sing ; I have heard it imitate the Nightingale so ex- 

 actly, that it has deceived me ; also the Blackbird, Thrush, and 

 the greater Pettichaps, all of which it imitates so much in its 

 voice that it is almost impossible to detect it, except when it 

 runs from one into the other, or shews itself in the open part 

 of a tree." 



" The song of the Blackcapt Fauvet," says Mr Neville Wood, 

 " is, perhaps, not surpassed by any other of the family, with 

 the exception, however, of those of the Brake Nightingale and 

 Garden Fauvet. It is loud, rich, clear, and rapid, and, in its 

 way, almost equals that of the leader of the vernal chorus, the 

 Brake Nightingale. It sings more constantly than any of its 



