66 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



two adult individuals being seldom or never seen 

 together. 



Its song is continued from the time of its arrival 

 until the end of June, and has been well described 

 by Sweet in his British Warblers. He says 

 " The song of the Blackcap is very loud and agree- 

 able, and it has a great variety of notes ; it is also a 

 real mocking-bird, and will catch the notes of any 

 bird that it chances to hear sing. I have heard it 

 imitate the Nightingale so exactly that it has 

 deceived me; also the Blackbird, Thrush, and the 

 Greater Pettychaps [the Garden Warbler], all of 

 which it imitates so much in its voice that it is 

 almost impossible to detect it, except when it runs 

 from one into the other, or shows itself in the open 

 part of a tree." 



As a cage-bird it is most lively and interesting, 

 and sings as unceasingly as in its natural state. 

 Nor is it difficult to manage. It may be fed upon 

 bruised hemp-seed and bread as its ordinary fare, 

 but it is impossible to keep it in health for any 

 length of time without giving it a regular supply of 

 small worms, insects, caterpillars, and grubs of 

 various kinds. In summer it should also have 



