20 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



daily till 6tli Ma)', This nest I again took. On the 27tli Maj', in a 

 privet-bush close to the original spot, I found a nest containing three 

 5'oung ready to fly " (MS. Notes). 



The Elackcap is generally common in North Devon. This favourite of 

 the garden and the grove, the least shy of all the Warhlers visiting us 

 in summer, first makes its appearance early in April, and, as if to make 

 up for the slight put upon the West Country by several of the summer 

 songsters, is occasionally to l)c found passing the winter in the south of 

 Devon and in the south-west corner of Cornwall. It is possible to have a 

 very near enjoyment of the delicious trills of this charming minstrel, for 

 we have only to approach quietly the bush from whence it is warbling, 

 either in the shrubbery or some woodland lane, and the little black-capped 

 bird will take no notice, and often have we stood a few inches beneath his 

 bough watching his throat quiver and swell as he poured forth his liquid 

 notes in his full delight in life and " the incense-gathering spring." He 

 is very fond of rij)c green figs, and stealing quietly towards an old tree 

 which used to grow against our stable-wall in North Devon, we have 

 caught a couide of mice and a cock Elackcap in close companj'' regaling 

 themselves upon this delicious fruit. 



The Blackcap, the Garden Warbler, and the Greater AVhitethroat are 

 all fruit-eaters, bringing their young broods into our gardens as soon as 

 they can fly to take their share in the luscious food. 



Garden Warl^ler, salvia kortensis, Bechst. 



A summer migrant, numerous in some localities. The nest is frequently 

 found near Exeter in May. Arrives in April, and sometimes remains 

 with us up to October. We saw one at Exmouth, October 10th, 1890. 

 (W. D'U.) 



It is common in the valley of the Plym, being very plentiful in Bickleigh 

 Vale on June ISth, 1875 (E. M., Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837, p. 176; II. A. J., 

 'Naturalist,' 1851, p. (58 ; J. G., ' Zoologist,' 1875, p. 4030). We met 

 with it on Brent Hill in September 1889. "Till recently we had not 

 traced this species so far west as Devonshire; but in 1800 we heard several 

 in the month of June in the thickets that border the river Avon, within 

 a few miles of its junction with the sea, singing most charmingly " (Mon- 

 tagu, Orn. Diet.). Strange to say, Mr. 11. P. Nicholls has never met with 

 it at Kingsbridge. It is enumerated by the llev. G. Tugwell in his list of 

 North Devon birds, but although we have for many years closely looked 

 for this Warbler, we have but very rarely seen it in the northern part of 

 the county or succeeded in identifying its song. 



Dartford Warbler. Melizophilus undatus (Bodd.). 



Formerly resident in the south-eastern, southern, and south-western 

 parts of the county. There have been no recorded occurrences since 

 1877, and wo fear it must be extinct in Devonshire. 



