WARBLKK. INSESSORES. CURRUCA. 209 



BLACK-CAP WARBLER. 



CURRUCA ATRICAPILLA, Bechst. 



PLATE XLVI. FIG. 2. and 3. 



Sylvia atricapilla, Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 508. sp. 6. 



Motacilla atricapilla, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 332. 18. Fauna Suec. No. 256 



Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 970. 

 Curruca atricapilla, Briss. 3. p. 580. 6. 



Atricapilla, seu Ficedula, Aldrov. Raii Syn. p. 79. A. 8 Will p. 162. 

 Becfin a tete noir, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. v. 1. 201. 

 La Fauvette a tete noir, Buff. Ois. v. 5. p. 125. t. 8. f. I Id. PI. Enl. 580. 



f. 1 . and 2. male and female. 

 Schwarzkopfige Grasmucke, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. 223 Frisch. 



t. 23. f. 1. A. and B. 

 Black-cap, Br. Zool. 1. p. 148. Arct. Zool. 2. p. 418. E. Will. (Ang.) 



p. 226 Lath. Syn. 4. p. 415. 5 Lewies Br. Birds, 3. t. 116 Pult. Cat. 



Dorset, p. 9 Mont. Ornith. Diet Bewick's Br. Birds, v. 1. p. t. 217. 







THIS species appears with us about the latter part of April, Periodical 



, , . f, ,, visitant, 



or, in backward seasons, not before the beginning of May ; 



it is more generally dispersed than the preceding one, and is 

 found not only throughout England, but in Scotland, where- 

 ever from situation it can obtain a suitable retreat. This is 

 usually in wood or thicket ; but it also frequents gardens 

 and orchards. It is of a shy nature, like most of the tribe. 

 It possesses much melody of song, though unequal in ex- 

 tent or power to that of the Nightingale. During its song ? 

 it is generally perched upon the summit of a tree, from 

 whence it pours forth, at intervals, its clear and well defined 

 notes. It builds in low bushes and brambles, or amongst Nest, &c. 

 nettles ; and the nest, which is loosely put together, is formed 

 of the dry stems of the cleavers (Galium aparine), frequently 

 lined with a few hairs, and fine fibres of root. 



The eggs are of a reddish-brown, with spots of a darker 

 shade, intermixed with others of an ash-grey colour ; and are 

 four or five in number. The young of this, as well as of 

 many other species, are very impatient of observation, and, 

 when handled, or otherwise disturbed, immediately quit the 

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