50 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



more common in the Lake District than elsewhere 

 in England, though, on account of its extremely 

 local distribution, it frequently happens that a single 

 wood is haunted by the whole species of the district. 

 It builds in holes in old elms and pollarded willows, 

 commencing to breed soon after its arrival in May. 

 It has but one brood, and leaves us again in 

 September. 



The flute-like mellowness and wild sweetness of 

 the black-cap's song give it a high place among 

 summer warblers, next only to the nightingale. The 

 black-cap has neither the fulness nor the force, but it 

 has all and more the former's purity. It comes to us 

 in April and stays until September. As with its 

 congeners, the males arrive before the females, and, 

 having sought out their old retreats, soon begin to 

 sing. The singing now is the means to an end, for 

 strange emotions are stirring within them, and their 

 consorts will soon arrive. If these are to be attracted 

 by the powers of song, there is little wonder at the 

 crest-erecting and throat-bursting of the males. 

 This little hideling, with its timid obtrusiveness, 

 never stays long on the exposed coasts where it 

 arrives, but seeks out its old haunts. Following 

 these little emigrants inland, we should trace them 

 to cultivation, or at least to abundant vegetation, 

 to woods and plantations, to sheltered copse and 

 hedgerow, to orchard, garden and shrubbery. One 



