BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



BLACKCAP. 



(Sylvia atricapilla.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family SYLVIID.E (WARBLERS). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about 

 six inches ; bill of me- 

 dium length, straight, 

 and dark horn colour. 

 Irides brown. All the 

 upper part of the head 

 black ; nape ash-grey ; 

 back and wing-coverts 

 ash-grey, tinged with 

 brown ; wing and tail- 

 quills brown, bordered 

 with grey ; cheeks, chin, 

 throat, and breast light 

 grey ; belly and under- 

 parts white ; legs and 

 toes lead colour ; claws brown. 



The female is larger than the male ; the top 

 of her head is dull rust colour, and her plumage 

 generally more tinged with brown. 



Situation and Locality. In brambles, briars, 

 thick hedges, nettles, and gooseberry bushes, in 

 gardens, orchards, thickets, shrubberies, and other 

 suitable places, at heights varying from two to 

 ten or twelve feet from the ground. In all parts 

 of England and Wales, and more sparingly in Scot- 

 land and Ireland. It is a very widely distributed 

 bird. 



Materials. Fibrous roots, straws, and dead 

 grass, with an inner lining of hair. It is a flimsy 



BLACKCAP ON NEST. 



