FOREIGN BIRDS. 231 



fruits usually produced in those places. And, first, 

 the petty-chaps, with all her matured brood, is cer- 

 tain to be found, feeding voraciously upon our 

 cultivated berries, or mining a hole in the fig or 

 jargonel pear ; and so intent are they upon this 

 occupation, that they will permit a reasonable ex- 

 amination of their form and actions, but at other 

 periods it is difficult to approach them. The black- 

 cap discontentedly flits about our inclosures and 

 thickets all the summer through, building her nest 

 or tending her young ; the fine clear harmony of 

 the male bird resounding in the morning from the 

 brake, yet, timid and alarmed, he ceases and hides 

 himself if we approach : but now he introduces all 

 his progeny to our banquet ; cautious still, we can 

 yet observe his actions, and easily distinguish the 

 black or brown heads of the sexes, as they are 

 occupied beneath the foliage of an Antwerp rasp- 

 berry. The white-throats now, too, leave their 

 hedges, and all their insect food, which for months 

 had been their only supply, and in the thick 

 covert of the gooseberry extract with great dex- 

 terity the pulp of the fruit, or strip the currant of 

 its berry. The elegant, slender form of the fe- 

 male, her snowy throat and silvery stomach, render 

 her very conspicuous as she scuttles away to hide 

 herself in the bush : her plain, brown-backed mate 

 seems rather less timid, but yet carefully avoids 

 all symptoms of familiarity. Other doubtful little 

 birds likewise appear, and are gone, several of 

 which, however, are probably the young of ascer- 



