43 

 THE BLACKCAP. 



Sylvia Atricapilla. 



Description. Length, six inches; the top of 

 the head black ; upper part of the body, breast, wings, 

 and tail, ash-colored ; lighter under the belly. With the 

 female, the top of the head is brown instead of black. 



This bird is found all over Europe in the summer 

 season ; in the winter it migrates to a more southern 

 climate. 



It is a most delightful singer, and is called the next 

 best to the Nightingale. Its notes, though quite differ- 

 ent from the Nightingale's, are no less admirable, and 

 are heard throughout the year, during the whole day, 

 except in the moulting season. He begins quite piano, 

 with several strains of warbling, and ends with loud, 

 most jo}ful, flute-like notes. 



It should be kept in a cage similar to that we de- 

 scribed for a Nightingale. Being a very free singer, it 

 may be placed at any part of a room. Food and gen- 

 eral treatment may be quite the same as described for 

 the Nightingale. 



