138 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



perching upon the highest twigs or tossing himself 

 into the air like a shuttlecock to run over his gar- 

 rulous warble. The Lesser Whitethroat must be 

 classed as rare, although we have seen undoubted 

 specimens of its eggs taken in the South Hams 

 district. Next to the Whitethroat in order of 

 abundance we must place the Blackcap, that 

 sweet-voiced bird whose song resounds from the 

 hedges continuously throughout the spring. He is 

 the earliest of the typical Warblers to arrive ; we 

 have a note of his appearance on the 28th of 

 March, but usually the first week in April is the 

 time of his advent. A couple of these birds, fresh 

 and vigorous from the south, singing against each 

 other in happy rivalry, will give you music fit 

 for the gods. We have nowhere remarked this 

 Warbler more plentiful than in the dense thickets 

 round that finest pile of Devonshire ruins, ivy- 

 draped Berry Pomeroy Castle. The Blackcap is 

 an early breeder ; we have records of a nest and 

 eggs by the i$th of April, but as a rule these are 

 not found until towards the end of the month. 

 Another common Warbler of the hedgerows is 

 the ChifFchafF. He, too, is an early migrant, and 

 we have repeatedly heard his monotonous song in 



