116 TREATISE ON 



British song-birds. Indeed, in our opinion, its 

 mellow notes are equal if not superior in ricliness 

 of tone to any in the nightingale's song. It is true 

 the warble is desultory, but sweetly wild and full 

 of melody. The cadence rises and swells, then dies 

 away in a soft and plaintive strain. Its shake or 

 trilling note is the finest we ever heard : A first- 

 rate opera-singer might imitate it ; but, like all 

 imitations, it would fall short of the original. 

 This bird is not very common ; but it appears to 

 be not unfrequent in the vicinity of Edinburgh. 

 We have heard it at Duddingston, the Dean, Ra- 

 velstone, and Craig-crook, all within about two 

 miles of the above mentioned city. It haunts 

 shrubberies and yc»ing plantations, but generally 

 near some old house or castle ; also orchards and 

 gai'dens. 



Montagu says " The blackcap is a migratory 

 species, visiting us early in the spring, and reti- 

 ring in September." It "frequents woods and thick 

 hedges, and seems particularly partial to orchards 

 and gardens, where it delights us with its charm- 

 ing melodious song, which is very little inferior 

 to that of the nightingale's, except in variety of 

 notes." 



The cocks arrive in Britain about the middle 



