486 BLACKCAP. 



M. M. M. F. 



Gape-line /| |^ |^ 1^ 



Wing from flexure 3 8j^^ Sj\ 2^^ 



Tail , 2|^^ 2j% n ^% 



Tarsus 9* ^* -9 ^ 



Hind toe |i {% |i j% 



Its claw |{ II II 1^ 



Middle toe || f^ || ^e^ 



Its claw /_ ^2 1*2 ^2 



His account of their manners is as follows : — " On the last day 

 of May and the 1st of June, while searching for the Blackcap 

 in Colinton Woods, near the spot where I had discovered a 

 nest a few days before, I was agreeably surprised at the sight 

 of several individuals of this species, which is considered of 

 very rare occurrence in this neighbourhood. But unfortunately 

 the nest which I had found was deserted before any eggs 

 were laid, probably because the female had seen me rummag- 

 ing in the neighbourhood. It was situated in a tuft of grass, 

 among a quantity of J]]gopodiuni Podagraria, at the root of a 

 young ash. In structure it resembled that of the Whitethroat, 

 but wanted the goose-grass (Galium Aparine) so invariably 

 found about the nest of that species. It was so admirably 

 concealed that in all probability I never should have seen it 

 had not the bird flown out. I observed that the males, besides 

 their regular song, uttered a variety of cries as they flew about. 

 One bird, for instance, repeated the syllable tic several times 

 in succession, while the cry of another resembled chic, chic, 

 repeated in the same way immediately on alighting. Another 

 imitated so exactly the sweet ditty of the Willow Wren, 

 Phyllopneuste Trochilus, of which several were singing at the 

 time, that I could hardly believe it until I saw its bill opening 

 and shutting in accordance with the umisual strain. That 

 there might be no mistake I shot him in the act. A female 

 which I procured was perfectly mute, and as she was sitting 

 on a low bush in a pensive attitude, resembled much the 

 Spotted or Grey Flycatcher, five of which I had shot the day 

 before in the same locality. The males on the contrary were 



