Bluus. 261 



early in tlie spring on pairing. In winter they assemble in flocks, 

 when their song forsakes tlioni, and the bird-catchers destroy 

 them in great innnhers for tiie tables of the luxurious. 



'I'lie black-cap and the wren, though so very diminutive, arc 

 yet prized by some for their singing. The former is called by 

 some the mock nightingale ; and the latter is admired for the 

 loudness of its note, compared to the little body from whence it 

 issues. It must be confessed, that this disproportion betweei/ 

 the voice of a bird and its si/e, in some measure demands our 

 wonder. Quadrupeds in tliis respect may be considered as 

 mutes to them. The peacock is louder than the lion, and the 

 rabbit is not so loud as the wren. But it must be considered, 

 that birds are very differently formed ; their lungs in some mea- 

 sure are extended through their whole body, while in quadru- 

 peds they lie only in the breast. In birds there are a variety of 

 cells which take in the air, and thus pour forth their contents at 

 the little animal's command. The black-cap and the wren, 

 therefore, are as respectable for their voices as they might be 

 deemed inconsiderable for their size.* 



try in harvest, and retires in spring. As the winter advances, it approaefics 

 tlie corn.yards, and feeds with tlie sparrows and finnhes. In Zetland it is 

 railed oat-fowl, from the preference which it gives to that kind of g^rani. 

 Of the Wliidah ISuntiug an acconnt shall be given in a succeeding note. 



• The Black- Cr/p.— This bird is somewhat above five inches in length. The 

 upper mandible is of a dark horn colour; the under one a liE;lit blue, and 

 the edges of both whitish : top of the head black ; sides of the head and 

 back of the neck ash colour ; back and wings of an olive grey ; belly and 

 > eiit white : the legs are of a bluish colour, inclining to brown ; the claws 

 black. 1 he head of the female is of a dull rust colour. 



The black-cap visits us about the middle of April, and retires in Septem- 

 ber ; it frequents gardens, and builds its nest near the ground : it is com- 

 posed of dried grass, moss, and wool, and lined with hair and feathers. The 

 female lays five eggs, of a pale reddish brown, sprinkled with spots of a 

 dar ker colour. During the time of incubation the male attends the female, 

 and sits by turns ; he likewise procures her food, such as flies, worms, and 

 li'se ets. The black-cap sings sweetly, and so like the nightingale, that ui 

 Nor folk it is called the mock nightingale. Buffon says, that its airs are 

 light and easy, and consist of a succession of modulations of small compass, 

 iMit sweet, flexible, and blended. And our ingenious countTJ^nan, Mr White, 

 observes that it ha.s usually a full, deep, sweet, loud, and wild pipe ; yet 

 tbe strain is of short continuance, and its motions desultory. But when the 

 bird sits calmly, aud in earnest engages in song, it pours forth very sweet, 

 but inward melody, and expresses great variety of sweet and gentle modii. 

 lations, superior, perhaps, to any of our warblers, the nightingale excepted ; 



