BLACK-CAP WARBLER. 649 



grey brown : back greyish brown, tinged with 

 green : quills and tail dusky, margined with dull 

 green : breast and upper parts of the belly light 

 ash : legs lead-colour : the female is known by 

 her head being dull rust-colour ; she is also supe- 

 rior in size : this species is variable : one has been 

 found in Sardinia with a red band over the eyes, 

 and another with a rufous crown ; both are said 

 to be rather smaller than the Black-cap : it has 

 also occurred with its whole plumage varied with 

 black and white: likewise with the upper parts deep 

 dusky ; the throat white, and the sides grey. 



The song of this bird is very fine, and by many 

 is thought as much of as that of the Nightingale, 

 which has caused it to be called the Mock Night- 

 ingale in Norfolk ; it has not, however, quite so 

 much compass as that bird : it is a migrative 

 species, coming here early in the spring, and re- 

 turning in September : it is very partial to orchards 

 and gardens ; not but it affects woods and thick 

 hedges : its nest is placed in a low bush or shrub ; 

 it is made of dried stalks, grass, and wool, and 

 lined with fibrous roots and horse-hair; the out- 

 side is sometimes covered with green moss: the 

 female lays five pale reddish brown eggs, mottled 

 with a deeper colour, and sprinkled with a few* 

 cinereous spots : during the period of incubation 

 the male assists the female, and should any one 

 approach the nest, shortly after the young are 

 hatched, they will leap out and forsake it entirely. 

 The Black-cap is very fond of berries of various 



