THE BLACKCAP. 159 



I can confusedly remember a very extraordinary cap- 

 ture of these birds, when I was a boy. Roosting one 

 winter evening on some very lofty elms, a fog carne on 

 during the night, which froze early in the morning, and 

 fastened the feet of the poor kites so firmly to the 

 boughs, that some adventurous youths brought down, I 

 think, fifteen of them so secured ! Singular as the cap- 

 ture was, the assemblage of so large a number was not 

 less so, it being in general a solitary bird, or associating 

 only in pairs. 



The blackcap (motacilla atracapilla) is our constant 

 visitor, but very uncertain in its numbers, as it fully 

 participates in all the casualties of our migratory tribes ; 

 not by any great diminution probably in its winter resi- 

 dence, but by loss in its transits of autumn or spring. 

 We have years when every little copse resounds with 

 harmony; at other periods, only a few solitary song- 

 sters are to be heard ; and the blackcap is the principal 

 performer in the band of our domestic vocalists. In 

 the scale of music it is the third for mellowness, and 

 the third perhaps too for execution and compass. As 

 this melody, however, continues only during the period 

 of incubation, we hear it but for a short time ; for this 

 bird wastes no time in amusements, appearing to be in 

 great haste to accomplish the object of its visit, and to 

 depart. Thus, immediately upon its arrival, we observe 

 it surveying and inspecting places fitting for nidification, 

 and commencing a nest ; but so careful and suspicious 

 is it, that several are often abandoned before finished, 

 from some apprehension or caprice : any intrusion is 

 jealously noticed ; and during the whole period of sitting 

 and rearing its young, it is timid and restless. I have 

 observed that both birds will occasionally perform the 

 office of incubation. 



It seems to live entirely by choice on fruits ; and as 

 soon as the brood can remove, it visits our gardens, 

 feeding with delight and almost insatiable appetite on 

 the currant and the raspberry ; and so much is it en- 

 gaged when at this banquet, that it suffers itself to be 

 looked at, and forgets for the moment its usual timidity: 

 but its natural shyness never leaves it entirely; and 



