OF SEL BORNE. 203 



I should be almost ready to doubt the fact, that there 

 are to be seen much fewer birds in July than in any 



What makes the blackcap more desirable is, that it is more hardy than 

 any of the other species, except the whitethroat, which is also a delight- 

 ful bird. The blackcap sings almost the whole of the year, if kept in 

 good health, only stopping a few weeks while moulting, and even then 

 I have known it break out into song. If bred up from the nest, they may 

 be taught any tune, or the song of one or more sorts of birds ; the nightin- 

 gale's song they learn readily, also that of the blackbird, thrush, greater 

 pettychaps, redstart, and most probably any other; but without learning 

 those, their own song is delightful : but it is impossible to keep some of 

 them from mocking other birds, as they even do so when flying wild, and 

 they have generally a favourite note which they repeat more frequently 

 than any other. 



The Whitethroat^ (Curruca cinerea, BECHST.) One of the most delight- 

 ful and pleasing birds that can be imagined if kept in a large cage with 

 other birds : it is so full of anticks in flying and frisking about, and erect- 

 ing its crest, generally singing all the time, that certainly nothing can be 

 more amusing. It is also quite as hardy as the blackcap, and if a good 

 one be procured it is little inferior in song; but in this they all vary con- 

 siderably, the wild ones as well as those in a cage. I have had one in 

 my possession about eleven years, which is in as good health, and sings 

 as well as ever, being now in full song while writing this account, and 

 certainly no song need be louder, sweeter, or more varied : it is of the same 

 temper as a nightingale, never suffering itself to be outdone. The fol- 

 lowing is an account of the same bird, published in the first number of 

 my British Warblers in 1823. " One that I at present possess will sing 

 for hours together against a nightingale, now in the beginning of Janu- 

 ary, and it will not suffer itself to be outdone ; when the nightingale 

 raises its voice it also does the same, and tries its utmost to get above it; 

 sometimes in the midst of its song it will run up to the nightingale and 

 stretch out its neck as if in defiance, and whistle as loud as it can, staring 

 it in the face : if the nightingale attempts to peck it, away it is in an 

 instant, flying round the aviary and singing all the time." 



In a wild state, the present species is generally to be found in hedges 

 and gardens, and is the most common of our British warblers, visiting 

 us the beginning or middle of April, and leaving us towards the end of 

 September : sometimes a solitary one may be seen in October, but not 

 frequently. The same sort of food as recommended for the two last species 

 is perfectly suitable to the present, with occasionally the addition of a 

 few flies, of which it is particularly fond, or a rose branch covered 

 with Aphides will please very much. 



The lesser Whitethroat, (Curruca Sylviella, BECHST.) A handsome little 

 lively species, nearly related to the whitethroat, but more elegant, smaller, 

 and of a purer colour, its throat being as white as snow : it generally 

 visits us the beginning or middle of April, and leaves us again the end of 

 August or beginning of September. Its song is not so agreeable as most 

 of the other species ; it is however soft and pretty, and very different from 

 any other : it is also more valuable by being much more rare ; in some 



