150 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



The melody of the blackcap may often be heard in 

 the scantily-leaved woods of April, or in the parks 

 and orchards, where, however, it contrives to screen 

 itself from view, being of a remarkably shy and 

 recluse nature. A month later, when the foliage 

 is thicker, its song is more frequent, but it generally 

 issues from some leafy covert, save when the bird 

 believes itself to be quite alone, w^hen it will sit 

 on the very top of a tree, and pour forth its 

 gladness, its tliroat swelling with the utterance. 

 But if some lover of nature comes hither to 

 search for the wild hyacinth or anemone, or to 

 breathe the sweet odours of leaf or flower, or 

 to delight in the hamiony of the grove, away 

 flies the blackcap among the ti-ees, from branch to 

 branch, till it is quite hidden. The female bird 

 sings too, though less loudly, and a song may 

 sometimes be heard from the nest, as the male bird 

 shares with the female in the cares of rearing the 

 young family. Though not quite so domestic as 

 his companion, or capable of remaining w4th so 

 much steady perseverance in one spot, yet he 

 seems very happy, too, in taking his share of sitting 

 on the eggs, and sing so loudly and sweetly out 

 of his glad heart, that the song has sometimes led 



