( 54 ) 

 ^he Black Cap and JVhite throat. 



Numb. LVIIl. 



'' I *HIS Bird is vei-y fmall, not weighing above half an Ounce: Its length from the 

 -^ tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is five Inches, breadth, when the Wings 

 are extended, nine Inches ; the top of th& Head is black, whence it took its name : 

 under the black on the fide of the Head white, the Neck cinereous; the Back, Wings 

 and upper fide of the Tail of a dufky Colour inclining to green. 



The Tail is made up of twelve Feathers two Inches and a half long, a little forked, 

 the nether part of the Neck, Breaft and Belly are of a light afh Colour inclining to 

 white; the Bill flreight and black : the Tongue cloven and rough; the Legs and Feet 

 arc of a lead Colour, the Claws black; the outmoft Toe below is faftned to the mid- 

 dlemofl. The Head of the Female is of a brown or chefnut Colour, rather than 

 black. Thefe Birds are frequent in Italy; it is alfo found in England in the Spring. 



The White Throat feems to be almoft of the fame Mi^gnitude of the Black Cap, 

 the upper Chap black, the lower white ; the Tongue is flit with a deep Incifion; the 

 Mouth within yellow or amber Colour, the back Toe great, the exterior fore Toes 

 equal, and lefs than in other fmall Bird--, joyned at bottom to the middlemofl:, the in- 

 terior by an intervening Membrane, which is not obferved in other Birds of this kind ; 

 the upper part of the Body is of a reddifh brown, the Head more cinereous ; the 

 Throat, Breaft and Belly are white, the outmofl Edges of the Q_uill-Feathers alfo 

 white. 



It frequents Hedges and Gardens, feeds upon Beetles, Flies and other Infedls; 

 creeping and hopping up and down in Buflies like the Hedge Sparrow, and builds in 

 Buflies not far from the Ground ; the outer part of the Nefl is made of the tender 

 Stalks of Herbs, and dry Straws, the middlemoft of fine Bents and foft Grafs, the 

 inlide of Horfehair and other foft Hair; it lays five Eggs of a dufky Colour, mingled 

 with white and green befprinkled over with black Spots, It comes to us in the Spring, 

 and leave us in Winter. 



3 The 



