of the year, and its song is so loud and shrill, that it 
may be heard above that of any other birds. I also 
possess a female of it that sings frequently, but her 
note is very different from that of the male. The Ho- 
nourable and Reverend William Herbert observes that 
4 4 it ought to be mentioned, that Gardeners are in the 
habit of cruelly destroying the nests of this bird, con- 
founding it with the Greater Pettychaps, and imagin- 
ing that they attack the Cherries; whereas it never 
touches fruit, but is the Gardener’s friend, picking the 
Aphides from the trees with great industry.” This is 
the case with several other species, the Gardeners con- 
founding them altogether under the common appella- 
tion of White throats, and destroying them indiscrimi- 
nately ; whereas it is only the Greater Pettychaps and 
the Blackcap that materially injure the fruit; but as 
the Blackcap has not a black head the first season, it 
is not in general distinguished from the Whitethroats. 
S. Sylviella , the Lesser Whitethroat. This elegant 
little bird is well worth keeping in confinement. I have 
at present a very handsome one, which is continually 
singing, and has a very pleasing soft note, much more 
pleasant than the wild ones ; they soon become much 
attached to their cage, and to the person who feeds 
them. 
S. atricapiila , the Blackcap. The female of this spe- 
cies sings in confinement, but its note is quite different, 
and not so agreeable as the male. It has now been in 
my possession nearly six years ; the three first years it 
did not sing, but since that time it sings frequently. 
