294 



I think the explanation of the difficult}- which Dr. 

 Bradburn appears to have experienced in keeping this 

 bird is to be found in the advice he gives — " feed it 

 just as I have recommended for the Nightingale." 

 Now the Nightingale is an almost exclusively insec- 

 tivorous bird, while the Blackcap is a fruit-eater. 



I remember reading an article some 3'ears ago 

 which related the treatment of caged Blackcaps in 

 the Canar}^ Islands — how they are there fed entirely 

 on fruit, varied with such flies as they can catch, and 

 of which a very considerable number are attracted to 

 the cage by the fruit. Doubtless in this climate a more 

 nitrogenous diet is desirable — but I believe the secret 

 of keeping the Blackcap in health is to supply it 

 constantly with fruit. 



I am not quite sure how long I have had my 

 Blackcap— but I know that it is not less than five 

 years. He always has fruit in his aviary— generally 

 banana — and is in the most perfect health and 

 plumage, singing delightfully each spring. He has 

 besides a soft-food mixture containing ants' eggs ; but 

 no mealworms or other live insects — in fact he does 

 not care for mealworms. 



The Blackcap seems to me to be much the easiest 

 to keep, of all the smaller British soft-bills. 



