BLACKCAP. 



SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA. 



Family Passerid.e. Sub-family Sylviin^. Genus Sylvia. 

 Blackcap Warbler — Mock Nightingale — Guernsey Nightingale. 



Another of our summer migrants, common in most 

 parts of England, particularly the south. In Scotland 

 and Ireland, however, it is a much rarer bird. 



The Blackcap, so called of course from its black 

 head, ranks second to the Nightingale in beauty of 

 song, and hence is sometimes called the Mock Night- 

 ingale. It may be found in almost any plantation, or 

 in gardens and orchards, which it frequents to pick 

 the insects and caterpillars off the opening leaves 

 and buds of the fruit trees ; but later on, I am sorry 

 to say, its visits there are for the purpose of thieving — 



