THE BLACKCAP. 225 



some to divide them into two species, but it is quite certain 

 that they only designate the sex ; the black marking the male, 

 and the brown the female. Its length is five inches and five- 

 sixths, two and a half of which belong to the tail. The beak 

 is five lines in length, formed like that of the nightingale, and 

 is of a brownish blue, with the edges of the lower base and 

 the interior of a yellowish white ; the iris maroon ; the feet 

 ten lines high, are dark ash-colour ; all the top of the head 

 is black ; the cheeks and upper part of the neck are light ash- 

 colour ; the upper part of the body, as well as the coverts of 

 the wings, ash-colour, tending to olive ; the under part of the 

 body is light grey, fading to white under the belly and breast ; 

 the sides and thighs are the same colour as the back ; the under 

 coverts of the tail and wings are speckled gray and white ; the 

 pen-feathers and tail-feathers are dark brown, edged with the 

 colour of the back. 



The female is rather larger ; her cap is reddish brown ; the 

 upper part of her body reddish grey, tending to olive ; the 

 cheeks and throat are light grey ; the breast, the sides, and the 

 thighs, are light grey, varying to light olive ; the belly is 

 reddish white. 



The silky plumage of this bird is so delicate and frail, that 

 it is rare to see one in confinement, whether hopping freely, or 

 caged, which has not its tail or its wings disfigured. 



Habitation. — When wild, this bird is found throughout Europe, 

 inhabiting woods and orchards, or their vicinity ; it particularly loves 

 thick copse-wood. In September it leaves our climate, and returns 

 about the middle of April, to enliven our woods by its brilliant and well 

 supported song. 



In confinement, when it is allowed to hop about, it is provided with a 

 branch, or a roost furnished with several sticks, because it walks with 

 difficulty, and prefers perching, on which account a cage is better adapted 

 to it. At the time for departure, these birds, urged by the instinct to 

 travel, are much agitated, especially in the night, by moonlight. The 

 desire to rove is so strong, that they often fall ill and die. 



Food. — When wild, the blackcap feeds on small caterpillars, butterflies, 

 f!ies> in short, of all kinds, on insects and their grubs ; in time of need, on 

 berries and fruits als» *. 



In confinement this bird does very well on the universal paste, with 

 ■which a little bruised hemp seed is mixed, and occasionally meal worms, 

 ants' eggs, or insects. In summer and autumn he is supplied with elder- 



* This is a mistake ; it is as fond of berries as of insects.— Translatob. 



