I SO
BLACKCAP.
PENDDTJR RRWYN, OF T H E ANCIENT BRITISH.
BLACKCAP WARBLER. MOCK NIGHTINGALE.
Sylvia africapilla, PENNANT. JENYNS.
Motacilla alricapilla, MONTAGU. BEWICK.
Motacilla mosquita, GMELIN.
Curruca alricapilla, GOULD. FLEMING.
Sylvia. Sylva—A wood. Atrkapilla. Akr—Black.
Capiilus—The hair of the head.
T H E Blackcap is more cosmopolite in its character than any other
of the British Warblers, It frequents the whole of the temperate
parts of Europe, from Sicily, Spain and Portugal to Germany,
Su ii/ei land, Italy, Lapland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. In
Africa it is found from the northern parts to the Cape of Good
Hope, and midway in Senegal. as likewise in Madeira and the
Azores. In Asia also it is known, in Persia, Java, and Japan.
Throughout England it is met with in all quarters of the country,
but mostly in the south, from Sussex to Devonshire and the Land's
End, and from Suffolk and Norfolk to Derbyshire and Wales. In
(Jornwall, however, it is scarce; in Yorkshire it is commonly
distributed, but is least plentiful it is said near Hnddersfield, where,
however, some few are believed to stay throughout the year. One
was caught in the township of St. John in Bedwardinc, near
Worcester, on the 20th. of January, 1813. Another in January,
about the year 1847, near Dover; and one on the 22nd. of December,
1852, in Norfolk.
In Ireland it seems to be a regular summer visitant to certain
districts, but must be considered very local. Dr. Harvey, in his
1 Fauna of Cork,' mentions two taken there in November, 1839;