5 8 THE BLACK-CAP. 



THE BLACK-CAP, sometimes called the mock 

 nightingale, possesses, in the opinion of some, 

 powers of song equal to those of the more univer- 

 sally acknowledged leader of the sylvan choir. He 

 is a most delightful singer ; and his notes, though 

 quite different, are no less admirable than the 

 nightingale's, and are heard throughout the year, 

 during the whole day, except in the moulting 

 season. This may also be called the English 

 mocking-bird, as he readily catches the notes of any 

 other songster which he chances to hear. Sweet 

 says that he has heard the black-cap imitate the 

 nightingale so exactly that even his practised ear 

 was deceived. 



If you love real bird-music, procure a black-cap at 

 any cost ; for he will make the whole house ring 

 again, his song is so full, so sweet, so deep and loud, 

 and so enriched with a variety of oily, silvery mod- 

 ulations, especially that long, soft shake*, which, 

 though it sinks gradually into the lowest note a bird 

 can utter, is heard as distinctly as the louder tones ; 

 and then just as you think it is about to die away, 

 and you begin to anticipate the silence that must 

 follow, higher and higher swells the song to the lofti- 

 est burst of melody, and you feel as if you wouldn't 

 part with the bird for twenty times his weight in gold. 

 When singing he distends his little throat, while the 

 whole body quivers with delight, telling that he feels 

 as much pleasure as he gives to the listener. Gil- 

 bert White, whose " Natural History of Selborne " 

 every boy ought to read for the sake of its beautiful 



