72 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



of the Garden \\^arbler; but, even when not tenanted, ma}^ be recognized as 

 distinct from it, by its smaller, neater, and far more compact character; the eggs 

 also are frequently slightly smaller, and, even when somewhat like those of 

 C. hortensis, differ in the greater prominence of the small black markings on their 

 surface. 



The food of this species consists of insects and their larvae, spiders, centipedes, 

 small fruits and berries, more especially elder and service berries, though those of 

 the \v\ are also eaten by it; the young are, however, principally fed upon small 

 caterpillars. Although, on the Continent, it is said to feed upon ripe figs, my 

 experience of it in confinement is, that it will not touch dried figs when cut open 

 and placed ^nth the soft food, but red or white currants it devours ■\\ith avidity. 



Next to the Nightingale, the Blackcap is certainly our finest songster, and 

 its powers of mimicry as well as its ventriloquial gifts are superior to those of 

 that most charming of all feathered vocalists ; its song is at one time full, rich 

 and clear as that of a Blackbird, then soft and mellow, again brilliant and 

 plaintive as a Robin's notes, or rapid and almost shrill as those of a Wren ; it 

 can copy deceptively the notes of many birds, even some portions of the Nightin- 

 gale's song, but it is almost too loud in its utterances to produce the latter in 

 its purit}'. Among foreign songsters the only bird which reminds one somewhat 

 of our Blackcap is the so-called " Pekin Nightingale" fLiothrix luteiisj, a bird 

 evidently far more nearlj- related to our Hedge Accentor. 



The song of the Blackcap may be heard from the highest branches of a lofty 

 tree, from a low shrub, or even from the nest as it sits ; but after the young are 

 hatched it ceases, the duty of finding food for its babes occup3T.ng the bird's 

 whole attention. When frightened this species scolds somewhat after the fashion 

 of a Whitethroat, and, if flushed from its nest, it remains close by hissing angrih" 

 its call-note is said to be a repetition of the word fac or fee harshly uttered ; but 

 it may be questioned whether this is realh' the call to its mate; it seems 

 more probable that it is merelj- a querulous observation, such as mau}^ of 

 these W^arblers indulge in at the approach of man : I am satisfied that its call 

 is a soft whistle. 



In the autumn of 1894, I purchased a male Blackcap, which was procured 

 for me by :\Ir. E. P. Staines, who kindly took the trouble to "meat it off"* for 

 me. I turned it out into the same aviar}' with my Redstart and W^agtails, where 

 it soon made itself at home; it used generally to roost upon a nail which had 

 been driven into the wall, in the first instance, to support a log-nest. This bird 



* A term applied to the process by wiiicli a wild-caught bird is induced to feed upon a soft mixture. 

 Many a^-iculturists make the mistake of using iinely chopped raw meat mixed with bread-crumbs for this 

 purpose, hence the term has arisen. 



