THE BLACKCAP. 147 



song of the nightingale, is that of the Blackcap* 

 {Curruca atricapilla) , tlie rich notes of which reach 

 us earlier in the spring, and are so gladsome, that 

 the comparison of tlie old proverb, '' As merry as 

 a blackcap," seems very appropriate. The familiar 

 name refers to tlie black patch on the head of 

 the male bird, and the French call it Fauvctte, a 

 tete noire, while the Germans give it the name of 

 Monk or Moor. The Mock-nightingale is another 

 familiar appellation for this favourite little singer. 

 Mr. ]\ Iain, in his excellent account of the singing of 

 various birds, thus describes our blackcap and its 

 music. " It is," he says, " the contra-alto singer of 

 the woodland choir. The fine, varied, joyous song of 

 this emigrant is noticed by the most listless auditor ; 

 the' strain occupies about three bars of triple time 

 in the performance, and though very frequently 

 repeated, is somewhat varied in every repetition. 

 He begins with two or three short essays of double 

 notes, gradually crescendo up to a loud and full 



* The Blackcap is five inches and three quarters in lep.gth. 

 Upper parts ashy brown, becoming grey on tlie back of the neck ; 

 upper half of the head black ; chin, throat, and breast grey ; belly 

 white ; beak horn colour ; feet lead-grey. The female is larger 

 than the male, and more tinged with brown ; her head is chest- 

 nut instead of black. 



