THE BLACKCAP. 65 



well known to the birdcatchers, and is a frequent 

 visitor to the large market-gardens of Kent, Surrey, 

 and Middlesex, where, candour compels us to say, 

 its chief attraction is fruit. Upon this the parent 

 birds live to a great extent ; and, after bringing up 

 their young upon various kinds of insects which infest 

 fruit-trees, thereby making some amends for their 

 depredations, they introduce their progeny at length 

 to the more palatable pulp upon which they them- 

 selves fare so sumptuously. They are particularly 

 fond of red currants, which they swallow whole, and 

 with much apparent satisfaction. Raspberries they 

 are unable to swallow, except piecemeal, and their 

 bills may often be seen stained with the juice of this 

 fruit. 



Perhaps no better place could be selected for 

 studying the actions of the Blackcap than amongst 

 the raspberry bushes, for so intent is the bird on 

 pilfering the fruit that it then admits of a much 

 nearer approach than at any other period of its stay 

 with us. If pursued it flits from bush to bush, but 

 seldom takes a long flight, and, although extremely 

 lively and agile, it seeks to hide itself from observa- 

 tion, and is in all respects a solitary bird, more than 



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