244 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



present uncertain whether the Redhead (Curruca ruficapilla) is to be regarded as merely a variety 

 of this bird, or as an entirely different species. 



The Capirote is found throughout the whole of Central Europe, and during its migration visits the 

 southern portion of that continent ; it is also very numerously met with in the Canary Islands, and has 

 occasionally been seen in Soudan. In most parts of Europe it generally makes its appearance about 

 April, and leaves again early in the autumn. 



" When the Blackcap first arrives in this country, its chiet food," says Mr. Sweet, " consists of 

 the early ripened berries of the ivy, and where these are there the blackcaps are first to be heard, 

 singing their melodious and varied song. By the time the ivy-berries are over, the little green lame 

 of the small moths, rolled up in the young shoots and leaves, will be getting plentiful ; these then 

 constitute their chief food until strawberries and cherries become ripe ; after that there is no fruit 

 or berry that is eatable or wholesome that they will refuse. When they have cleared away the elder- 

 berries in autumn, tiiey immediately leave us." 



This ppecies usually produces two broods in the season, and places its comparatively well-built 

 nest within the shelter of a thorny bush or leafy shrub. The eggs, from four to six in number, are 

 of an oval shape, smooth, flesh-coloured, and marked with reddish-brown spots. 



" The male birds of several species of Warblers," says Mr. Yarrell, " share with their females 

 the task of incubating the eggs ; this is particularly the case with the male Blackcap, readily known 

 from the female by his black head. So gratified is he, apparently, when performing this part of his 

 duty, that he will frequently sing while thus occupied, sometimes, perhaps, occasioning the destruction 

 of his hopes. A writer in the ' Magazine of Natural History ' says he has several times been led to 

 the discovery of the eggs by the male singing while sitting. The female, when taking her turn on 

 the nest, is occasionally fed by her mate. Generally, however, male birds neither sit so steady, 

 or feed the young so assiduously, as the females." 



Bolle tells us that if the nestlings lose their mother her bereaved mate will alcne undertake the 

 care of his hungry young ones. The general habits and demeanour of the Blackcap so closely 

 resemble those of other members of this family that further description is unnecessary. Nevertheless, 

 we must allude more particularly to the peculiarities of its beautiful song, which has been described 

 by Mr. Yarrell : — 



" The Blackcap has in common a full, deep, sweet, loud, and wild pipe, yet that strain is 

 of short continuance, and his motions are desultory ; but when the bird sits calmly, and engaged in 

 song in earnest, he pours forth a very sweet but inward melody, and expresses a great variety of soft 

 and gentle modulations, superior, perhaps, to any of our Warblers, the Nightingale excepted. While 

 this species warbles the throat is wonderfully distended." 



Bolle mentions a tame Capirote kept by a lady in Ciudad de los Palmas, the chief town of the 

 Canaries, that was the wonder and admiration of the whole neighbourhood, on account of the extra- 

 ordinary clearness with which it had learnt to repeat the words mi niiio chiceritito (my darling little 

 pet), a phrase daily employed by its mistress, as she gave her favourite its food. Large sums were 

 offered by several persons, in the hope of obtaining so great a curiosity as a singing bird that could 

 speak, but his owner was not inclined to part with her treasure ; and after tending it for several 

 years with the utmost watchfulness, had the grief to lose it by poison, administered, it was supposed, 

 by some one whose offers had been refused. When in confinement this species soon becomes tame. 



Beckstein says, " A young male which I had put into a hothouse for the winter was accus- 

 tomed to receive a meal-worm from my hand every time I entered. This took place so regularly 

 that immediately on my arrival he placed himself near the little jar where I kept the meal-worms. If 

 I pretended not to notice this signal, he would take flight, and, passing close under my nose, imme- 



