Nest, &c. 
Food. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
174 PASSERES. SYLVIA. BLACK-CAP 
and power, this song is unrivalled, and its effect is still fur- 
ther increased by the chosen hour of its utterance, during the 
silence of a calm summer’s night.—Its nest is formed upon 
the ground, of withered oak-leaves, and lined with dry grass. 
It lays from four to six eggs, of a plain yellowish-brown.— 
The food of the mghtingale consists chiefly of insects and 
their larvee ; to which may be added berries and fruit. 
From the observations of Monracu it appears, that the 
young birds are principally fed with small green caterpillars, 
probably the larvee of some moth ; but perhaps that of a ten- 
thredo, peculiar to certain localities. After rearing its pro- 
geny, and recruiting for a short time its strength, after the 
performance of its parental duties, on the first approach of 
autumn, it departs from our shores for warmer and more — 
congenial climates. Egypt and Syria appear to be its chief 
retreats during our winter, at which time it has been remark- 
ed, in the first of these countries, to be plentiful im the 
thickets of the Delta, but has never been known to sing, ut- 
tering only the common alarm-note, so frequently heard in 
those districts of England where it abounds. 
Pirate 46. Fig. 1. Natural size. 
Upper parts deep yellowish-brown. Rump and tail pale 
orange-coloured brown. ‘Throat and middle of the bel- 
ly greyish-white. Sides of the neck, breast and flanks 
grey. Legs and toes pale yellowish-brown. 
The female is similar in plumage to the male. 
% Black-cap Warbler.—Sylvia atricapilla, Lath. 
PLATE 46. Figs. 2, and 3. 
Sylvia atricapilla, Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 508. sp. 6. 
Motacilla atricapilla, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 332. 18—Fauna Suec. No. 256.— 
Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 970. 
Curruca atricapilla, Briss. 3. p. 580. 6. 
Atricapilla, seu Ficedula, Aldrov. Rai, Syn. p. 79. A. 6.—Will. p. 162. 
Bec-fin a téte noir, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. v. 1. p. 201. 
