i 4 6 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE BLACK-CAP. 



(Sylvia Atricapilla, Lath. Bee-fin a tete noire y 

 Temm.) 



Is somewhat above five inches in length. The 

 upper mandible is of a dark horn colour; the under 

 one light blue, and the edges of both whitish; top 

 of the head black; sides of the head and hinder 

 part of the neck ash colour; back and wings olive 

 grey; the throat, breast, belly, and vent more or 

 less silvery white ; the legs bluish, inclining to 

 brown; claws black. The head of the female is 

 of a dull rust colour. 



The Black-cap visits us about the middle of 

 April, and retires in September; it frequents 

 gardens, and builds its nest near the ground, 

 commonly among the branches of the Woodbine; 

 it is very slightly made, and composed of the 

 dried stems and curled roots of small grass, 

 thinly interwoven with a very few hairs, and 

 bound to the twigs with the cotton of plants; 

 the inside of the nest is deep and round; the 

 eggs, commonly five in number, are reddish 



