418 



PASSERES. 



SYLVI1D.E. 



SYLVIID.E. 





Sylvia atricapilla. (Linnaeus*). 

 THE BLACKCAP. 



Carruca atricapilla. 



The Blackcap is a true sylvan Warbler, visiting this 

 country from the South and East every spring, arriving 

 about the middle of April, or sometimes rather earlier, ac- 

 cording to the state of the season, but never, says Selby, 

 till the larch-trees are visibly green ; and it leaves us again, 

 with an occasional exception, in September. Several instances, 

 however, have occurred of examples being observed and ob- 

 tained during winter, in various parts of the British Islands. 



Like the Nightingale, and most other spring-migrants, 

 the males of this species arrive some days before the females, 

 and their song soon betrays their retreat. It frequents 

 woods, plantations, thick hedges, orchards and gardens. It 

 is then restless, timid and shy ; and is no sooner observed 

 than it exhibits its anxiety to gain some place of concealment 



* Mutacilla atricapilla, Liiiiueii.s, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 332 (1766). 



