58 



NEST AND EGGS OF THE BLACKCAP. 



PLATE LVIII. 



The Blackcap comes to us in April and leaves us 

 again in September ; inhabits shady \\"oods. The nest 

 before me is made of small stalks of dried plants, hav- 

 ing little tufts of soft moss here and there intermixed ; 

 the middle coat consists of a finer choice of the same 

 materials ; and the lining is very fine fibres and black 

 hair. This nest was built in a low bush, about two 

 feet from the ground. The eggs are five or six, of 

 a dull white, with dusky spots. 



The Blackcap, as Mr. Pennant justly observes, 

 " sings finely: it has usually a full, sweet, deep, loud, 

 " wild pipe ; yet the strain is of short continuance, and 

 " his motions are desultoiy: but when he sits calmly 

 '■ and earnestly engages in song, he pours forth very 

 " sweet but inward melody, and expresses great variety 

 " of sweet and gentle modulations, superior perhaps to 

 " those of any of our warblers, the nightingale except- 

 " ed; while they warble, their throats are wonderfully 

 " distended." 



