284. 



SONG OF THE BLACKCAP WAEBLEE. 



rither late in arriving, seldom being seen or heard until the end of April, and it remainii 

 with us until the middle of September. As severnl specimens of this pretty bird have 

 been noticed in England in the months of December and January, it is probalile that 

 some individuals may not migrate at all, but remain in this country throughout the entire 

 winter. Should it do so, it might easily escape notice, as it would not be likely to sing 

 much during the cold months, and owing to its retiring habits it is at all times more likely 

 to be heard than seen. 



"While singing, the Blackcap chooses some spot where it can conceal itself if alarmed, 

 and there pours forth his melodious notes in security. Sometimes he will sing while 

 perched upon an open branch, but he is very jealous of spectators, and if he fancies 

 himself visible, immediately drops among the foliage and is lost to sight. Tlie song of 

 this bird is well described by IMr. jMudie in the following words : — 



" Its song is generally given fr(5m a high perch or an elevated branch, on the top twig 

 if the tree be not very lofty. While it sings, the axis of the body is very oblique by the 

 elevation of the head, and the throat is much inflated. While the bird is trilling, in 



'■S^^'f^y'^^ 



BLACIvOAP WAKBLER.— .'Jj/h'ia alricnj)illa. 



which it excels every song.ster of the grove in rapidity and clearness, and in the swells 

 and cadences which it gives to the same trill, the throat has a very convulsive motion, 

 and the whole bird appears to be worked into a high state of excitement. It has indeed 

 the mildest and most witching notes of all our warblers ; it has not certainly, the volume 

 and variety of the nightingale, neither has it the ineffably sweet chant of the garden 

 M'arbler ; but its notes take one liy surprise, and the changes and especially the trills are 

 finer than those of any other bird. 



The song, when the bird is at rest, appears to be by turns like those of several birds ; 

 but it transposes them into a lower, or rather a minor key, and finishes off with variations 

 of its own ; and, as is the case with the works of some of the more impassioned musical 

 composers, the very genius (.so to speak) of the bird interferes with the melody, and a sort 

 of indescribable wildness is the character of the whole." 



The Blackcap has often been known to become a mimic of other birds, and will 

 frequently spoil its own exquisite notes by introducing imitations of the surrounding 

 songsters. 



The food of the Blackcap con-sists eliiefly of insects, Init it also pays attention to tlie ripe 



