OF SELBORNE. 129 
but in July and August they bring their broods into 
gardens and orchards, and make great havoc among 
the summer fruits. 
The Bracxcar has, in common, a full, sweet, deep, 
, a ty ae 
Zi WG 
ae Aw G 
loud, and wild pipe; yet that strain is of short con- 
tinuance, and his motions are desultory ; but when 
that bird sits calmly, and engages in song in earnest, 
_he pours forth very sweet but inward melody, and 
expresses great variety of soft and gentle modula. 
- tions, superior, perhaps, to those of any of our war- 
blers, the nightingale excepted. 
Blackcaps mostly haunt orchards and gardens ; 
while they warble, their throats are wonderfully 
distended. 
The song of the Repstart* is superior, though 
* The following curious account of the Redstart was com- 
municated to Dr. Joan Latuam by J. W. Horstey, Esq., of 
Chiswick : 
*‘ Early in the morning of the 16th of April, 1812, as I was 
tending a bed of tulips, which is one of my stud of hobby-horses, 
I perceived a little bird flickering about me, so near and so often, 
that I verily believe I could have caught it with my hands if | had 
been a little careful todo so; however, curiosity at length caused 
me to watch its motions, and | soon perceived she was bringing 
