BLACK-HEADED BIRDS. 43 



Wales ; south of Scotland, rarer ; south-east Ireland, 

 rarer still. 



The Blackcap is a woodland songster of the very 

 first rank. Like others of the great singers, he is, 

 roughly stated, brown above and white below, the 

 inconspicuous garb of so many of those whose dis- 

 tinction lies in their song rather than in their plumage. 

 Yet, for some merit best known to herself. Nature 

 has conferred upon the Blackcap the outward dis- 

 tinction of a jet-black cap, and as the possessor of this 

 he is unique among the truly great British songsters. 

 This bird nests in the undergrowth in wooded 

 spots, but as a rule perches higher to sing. At such 

 times, addressing himself now to the right, now to 

 the left, of some imaginary auditory, he repeats, with 

 puffed throat, a pure warbling strain, soft at first, 

 but gathering force and brilliancy in its development, 

 from time to time introducing little intermezzos of 

 subdued soliloquy, aptly designated by White of 

 Selborne 'inward melody.' Not at all times, how- 

 ever, is he thus earnestly set to deliver himself, for 

 often, singing as he canvasses the twig-ends for his 

 insect-food, he emits a rambling, half-hearted song 

 which does him little credit as a serious artist. The 

 song is between those of the Willow -Warbler and the 

 Chaffinch, which in a general way it resembles ; but 

 it lacks the rather feminine refinement of the former, 

 and falls short of the ' smashing ' brilliancy of the 

 latter. This bird is stated sometimes to remain in 

 England during the winter. 



GARDEN- WARBLER— 5J inches ; in its general appear- 

 ance, habits, and song closely resembling the Blackcap, 

 but lacking the distinctive blaclc cap. 

 G 



