^6 British Birds, 



fibrous roots, may be found among rank growth of 

 various herbage, or in a bush, or in a row of rodded 

 peas. The usual four or five eggs are of muddled- 

 white, stained and spotted with greenish brown, 

 lighter or darker. — Fig, 1, plate III. 



BLACKCAP — {Sylvia atricapilla ; formerly, 

 Curruca atricapilla). 



Blackcap Warbler. — This bird, with several others, 

 has a local or country name in common, derivable, I 

 believe, from the structure of the nest. I mean Hay- 

 jack or Hay-chat ; but it is, I think, much less fre- 

 quently distinguished by that name than the birds 

 just referred to. The country-boy's name for one of 

 these must always be distrusted, as is the case also 

 with his designation of other common, but much more 

 dissimilar birds. Thus, not to mention other instances, 

 the Blackcap proper, the Greater Tom-tit and the 

 Stone-chat are all called Blackcap. The Blackcap 

 Warbler comes to us in spring and builds in our 

 gardens and shrubberies as frequently as in wilder 

 resorts, but always in places where there is thick 

 foliage and plentiful means of concealment. It is a 

 very shy bird, and very unwilling to be gazed at. If 

 it sees you watching it, you soon lose sight of it as it 

 hops and twists from spray to spray into the inner 

 and shadiest recesses of its haunt. Its nest, too, is 

 studiously concealed, and Mr. Yarrell says it will 

 leave two or three just-commenced nests in succession 

 on light grounds of suspicion that it has been noticed 

 in its labours. The nest is a benty, and, saving for 

 the ties of wool or cobweb, a slightly compacted 



