Warbler. INSESSORES. CURRUCA. 209 



BLACK-CAP WARBLER. 



CURRVCA ATRICAPILLA, BecJlSt. 

 PLATE XLVI. Fig. 2. and 3. 



Sylvia atricapilla, Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 508. sp. 6. 



Motacilla atricapilla, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 332. 18.— Fauna Suec. No. 256 — 



Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 970. 

 Curruca atricapilla, Briss. 3. p. 580. 6. 



Atricapilla, seu Ficedula, Aldrov. Rati Syn. p. 70. A. 8 — Will. p. 162. 

 Becfin a tete noir, Temrn. Man. d'Ornith. v. 1. 201. 

 La Fauvette a tete noir. Buff. Ois. v. 5. p. 125. t. 8. f. 1 — Id. PI. Enl. 580. 



f. 1 . and 2. male and female. 

 Schwarzkopfige Grasmucke, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. 223 — FriscJi. 



t. 23. f. 1. A. and B. 

 Black-cap, Br. Zool. 1. p. 148.— Arct. Zool. 2. p. 418. E.— Will. (Ang.) 



p. 226 Lath. Syn. 4. p. 415. 5 Lewin's Br. Birds, 3. t. 116 — Ptilt. Cat. 



Dorset, p. 9 Mont. Ornith. Diet Bewick's Br. Birds, v. 1. p. t. 217. 



This species appears with vis about the latter part of April, Periodical 

 or, in backward seasons, not before the beginning of May ; 

 it is more generally dispersed than the preceding one, and is 

 found not only throughout England, but in Scotland, where- 

 ever from situation it can obtain a suitable retreat. This is 

 usually in wood or thicket ; but it also frequents gardens 

 and orcliards. It is of a shy nature, like most of the tribe. 

 — It possesses much melody of song, though unequal in ex- 

 tent or power to that of the Nightingale. During its song 

 it is generally perched upon the summit of a tree, from 

 whence it pours forth, at intervals, its clear and well defined 

 notes. — It builds in low bushes and brambles, or amongst Nest, &c. 

 nettles ; and the nest, which is loosely put together, is formed 

 of the dry stems of the cleavers (Galium aparine), frequently 

 lined with a few hairs, and fine fibres of root. 



The eggs are of a reddish-brown, with spots of a darker 

 shade, intermixed with others of an ash-grey colour ; and are 

 four or five in number. The young of this, as well as of 

 many other species, are very impatient of observation, and, 

 when handled, or otherwise distvirbed, immediately quit the 



VOL. I. o 



