94 



THE BLACK CAP 



Takes its name from its having the whole 

 of the crown of its head entirely black, 

 which is not, however, the case with the 

 female, the crown of her head being of a 

 dull rust colour, so that a decided mark 

 distinguishes one sex from the other; the 

 rest of the plumage is extremely unassum- 

 ing, the neck being of an ash colour, the 

 back and wings of an olive- grey, the throat 

 and breast of a silvery grey, and the belly 

 and vent white, the legs and bill are of a 

 bluish colour. 



Like the nightingale, this bird is mi- 

 gratory, coming to England about the 

 middle of April, and retiring again about 

 the middle of September: a few, how- 

 ever, occasionally remain through the Win- 

 ter. Bewick says, " it frequents gardens, 

 and builds its nest near the ground, com- 

 monly among the branches of the wood* 



