The "Blackcap's Roundelay 



ON first arriving in April the blackcap a greyish 

 little songster with a black crown practises its song in 

 an undertone, " an inward melody," hiding itself 

 from sight ; but though a very shy bird, retiring to 

 the depths of bushes, one may draw close to listen to 

 its wood- wild notes. In a short time the full song is 

 perfected, and often is heard from apple trees, between 

 the little singer's meals off grubs and insects. Besides 

 these, he is fond of raspberries and soft fruits. In his 

 varied roundelay one seems to hear the notes of many 

 birds nightingale, thrush, and blackbird. 



We have usually found the blackcap's nest in 

 bramble -bushes, a very slight nest made of grass 

 and small roots : not one to be pried into too closely, 

 as the builders soon desert. Their eggs vary very 

 much in their shade of pale red, and in their dusky 

 spots. 



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