194 
allen's naturalist's library. 
hood, but, according to Mr. Seebohm, its westward range is the 
7 °th degree of east longitude. It is found in the Caucasus 
Senegambk! Persia > and winters in North-eastern Africa and 
Habits.— I he Blackcap arrives in this country at the end of 
April or early in May, and apparently begins at once to build 
its nest, as we have found hard-set eggs as early as the 12 th of 
May. Its song, more sustained than that of the Nightingale 
rivals, if it does not surpass, that of the latter bird’s? and the 
song generally commences in the same way— first a few notes 
sounding some distance off, and then bubbling forth into beauti- 
ful and sustained melody. Both male and female take turns at 
incubation, and Mr. Dixon says that the former even sings 
while sitting on the eggs. This we have never heard, but we 
ave several times found the male bird sitting on the nest and 
generally loth to quit his charge. When disturbed, the bird 
Hits off suddenly and quietly, retiring into the bushes and 
scolding vehemently in the usual harsh voice of the Warblers. 
1 he female, on the other hand, will evince great anger, and 
often come close to the intruder, scolding and hissing. The 
rads, if often disturbed, will forsake the nest, even when the 
eggs are far advanced towards hatching, and will also not lav 
eggs in a nest if the latter be much disturbed by touching it 
I he food of the Blackcap consists chiefly of insects, but also 
o a few berries, and many observers believe that the latter 
constitute more of its food than insects. In the autumn thev 
devour elderberries to a great extent, and on migration thev 
even stop m the suburban districts of London, and may then 
be seen in small parties on the elder-bushes. The Blackcan 
undoubtedly remains sometimes in the warmer parts of Great 
Britain during the winter, being enabled to subsist by the 
abundance of berries. 1 
Nest.— This is placed in various situations,— in brambles, in 
hedges, and small bushes, and in the branches of small trees in 
the undergrowth. We have also found it in the “growers ” of 
an elm-tree in a. dark, cver-green shrubbery. In the British 
Museum is a nest, found by ourselves, in Sussex, suspended in 
a privet-bush overhanging a ditch, at a very little height from 
t ie giound. 1 he nest is a slightly-made, cup-shaped structure, 
