BLACKCAP 



song, such as it is, is more of a warble than a song, through 

 which the real notes can occasionally be traced. 



While resting they sit in their characteristic attitude, 

 like a ball of feathers, tails drooping, backs very much 

 rounded, and their head feathers raised. After resting thus 

 for a while they fly to the berries, and, swallowing some, 

 compose themselves for a further repose. I have noticed 

 that about six of these berries are generally sufficient to 

 appease their appetites for a time, but their visits to the 

 trees are frequent, and their digestive powers rapid. As long 

 as an observer remains perfectly still in his retreat, they, like 

 all other wild creatures, take little notice of him ; they will 

 only come and look from the opposite side of a branch, dis- 

 appear, and return again, as if unable to understand his 

 presence ; any movement, however, no matter how slight, is 

 sufficient to arouse their suspicions, and cause them to utter 

 their alarm-note, when all within hearing will be on the alert. 



I have already referred to the song and powers of imitation 

 of both adult and immature birds, but since their vocal powers 

 are so highly developed, the subject becomes a more than 

 usually interesting one. I shall therefore relate the various 

 phenomena I have noticed in connection with it somewhat 

 minutely. In order to do this, I propose to divide the subject 

 into four parts, and deal with each part separately : — 



(1) The development in the male from year to year. 



(2) The deterioration in both mature and immature 



individuals immediately coition has taken place. 



(3) Power of imitation. 



(4) Evidence of emulation. 



(1) It will be found that in the spring, when the males 

 first arrive, there is a great variation in the quality of the 

 song of the different individuals, that in some cases there is 

 a marked inferiority, which is difficult to describe but easy to 

 detect, while in others the song is so strikingly beautiful as 

 to at once arrest attention. The difference between these two 

 extremes lies principally in the purer notes, which might well 



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