72 Bird-keeping. 



only to the Nigtingale in power and sweetness, and it 

 is an admirable mimic, learning the notes both of the 

 Canary and Nightingale, and imitating the latter so 

 exactly, that when singing at night its song is fre- 

 quently mistaken for that of the Nightingale. It 

 comes to England in April, and leaves us again in 

 September. The old birds are not very easily caught, 

 but the young may be brought up from the nest, fed 

 on bread crumbs moistened with milk, and sprinkled 

 with ants' eggs. The Blackcap derives its name from 

 the black hood extending from below the beak to the 

 nape of the neck of the male ; the hen has a brownish- 

 red cap, and as she sings a little, she is often mistaken 

 for a distinct species. The bird is about the size of a 

 Chaffinch ; its plumage is olive-green and grey, with 

 a dark brown and green tail. The under part of the 

 body is much whiter in the hen than in the cock bird, 

 and thus the sex of the young birds can be detected. 

 The Blackcap is easily tamed in confinement, and is 

 capable of great attachment to his owner. One which 

 was kept in a hothouse soon learned to take mealworms 

 from his master's hand, and would fly to the jar where 

 they were kept as soon as he saw him approach, 

 attracting his attention by flying close to him, or 

 striking him with his wing if he did not notice him at 

 once. 



The Blackcap requires a cage of the same kind as 

 the Nightingale : he prefers shade to sunlight, there- 



