BRITISH BIRDS, 
SI? 
THE BLACK-CAP. 
{■ Motacilla Atricapilla > Lin. — La Fauvette a tete noire , 
Buff.) 
This bird is in length fomewhat above five inch- 
es : The upper mandible is of a dark horn colour ; 
the under one light blue — edges of both whitifh * 9 
top of the head black ; fides of the head and back of 
the neck alh colour ; back and wings of an olive 
grey ; the throat and breaft are of a filvery grey ; 
belly and vent white ; the legs are of a blueilh co~ 
lour, inclining to brown ; the claws black : The 
head of the female is of a dull ruft colour. 
The Blackcap vifits us about the middle of A« 
pril, and retires in September ; it frequents gar- 
dens, and builds its neft near the ground, which is 
compofed of dried grafs, mofs, and wool, and lin- 
ed with hair and feathers ; the female lays five eggs, 
of a pale reddifh brown, fprinkled with fpots of a 
darker colour. During the time of incubation the 
