BLACKCAP 



into the bushes, then approaches from the opposite direction, 

 disappears again, and finally swallows the food she is carrying. 

 After a short time she again returns, approaches the nest 

 more closely, especially if the male is in front and more or 

 less leading her, but cannot finally make up her mind. This 

 hesitation lasts for some time, and while it lasts she often 

 reaches the nest, settles on the side of it, but even then her 

 courage fails her and again she disappears. In time she 

 becomes callous and feeds naturally, but is always more care- 

 ful than the male to conceal her approach. That her excite- 

 ment is considerable is shown by the way she sometimes 

 quivers her wings in the same manner as just previous to 

 coition. The length of time necessary for the parents to 

 overcome their alarm at your presence depends very much 

 on their first impression. If, that is to say, they suddenly 

 return and find you in full view, their courage is more taxed 

 than if you are partially concealed and very quiet. 



Both parents are careful after bringing a supply of food 

 to wait for the faeces to be ejected, and when this is done 

 they carry them away and drop them some distance from the 

 nest, or swallow them. I have seen a male still carrying the 

 faeces away when the young had left the nest and were sitting 

 amongst the bushes. 



The male frequently sings while his bill is full of larvae. 



The young grow very rapidly. About the fifth day they 

 begin to use, although very quietly, the call-note of the 

 species. They now also preen their feathers and peck at the 

 insects on their bodies after the manner of the adults. About 

 the sixth day they stretch themselves and flap their wings 

 continually. Under ordinary conditions the young remain 

 in the nest until about the ninth day, but as early as the 

 seventh day I have removed a young one for experimental 

 purposes some distance from the nest, and upon my doing 

 so the parents made a considerable commotion and the 

 remaining young immediately left. This commotion attracted, 

 among birds of other species, another male Blackcap ; he 



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