S82 SYLVIAD.E. 



tliis bird as full, deep, sweet, and loud : like most birds that 

 are gifted with great powers of voice, the Blackcap is an 

 imitator of the notes of several others, and occasionally de- 

 tracts from the character of his more natural song by the 

 introduction of variations. The male birds of several species 

 share with their females the task of incubating the eggs : this 

 is particularly the case with the male Blackcap, so readily 

 known from the female, as before observed, by his black 

 head ; and so gratified apparently is he when performing this 

 part of his duty, as frequently to sing while so occupied, 

 sometimes perhaps producing the destruction of his hopes. 

 A writer in the Magazine of Natural History says, he has 

 several times been led to the discovery of a well-concealed 

 nest by the male singing while sitting on the eggs. The fe- 

 male while taking her turn on the nest is occasionally fed by 

 the male : generally, however, male birds neither sit so 

 steady, so long at one time, or feed the young so assiduously, 

 as the females. The food of this species is benies, insects, 

 and fruit, particularly rasj^berries and red currants. Mr. 

 Blyth mentions having seen the Blackcap dart into the air 

 after insects, and catch them while on the wing. Bechstein, 

 in his Cage Birds, says, " A young male which I had put 

 into the hothouse for the winter was accustomed to receive 

 from my hand, every time I entered, a meal-worm : this took 

 place so regularly, that immediately on my arrival, he placed 

 himself near the little jar where I kept the meal-worms. 

 If I pretended not to notice this signal, he would take flight, 

 and, passing close under my nose, immediately resume his 

 post ; and this he repeated, sometimes even striking me with 

 his wing, till I satisfied his wishes and impatience." And the 

 Blackcap in confinement appears, as well from his habits as 

 from his fine song, to have been a great favourite with the late 

 Mr. Sweet. 



The Blackcap visits all the counties along the southern 



