tliis bird as full, deep, sweet, and loud: like most birds that
are gifted with great powers of voice, the Blackcap is an
imitator of the notes of several others, and occasionally detracts
from the character of his more natural song by the
introduction of variations. The male birds of several species
share with their females the task of incubating the eggs: this
is particularly the case with the male Blackcap, so readily
known from the female, as before observed, by his black
head ; and so gratified apparently is he when performing this
part of his duty, as frequently to sing while so occupied,
sometimes perhaps producing the destruction of his hopes.
A writer in the Magazine of Natural History says, he has
several times been led to the discovery of a well-concealed
nest by the male singing while sitting on the eggs. The female
while taking her turn on the nest is occasionally fed by
the male: generally, however, male birds neither sit so
steady, so long at one time, or feed the young so assiduously,
as the females. The food of this species is berries, insects,
and fruit, particularly raspberries and red currants. Mr.
Blyth mentions having seen the Blackcap dart into the air
after insects, and catch them while on the wing. Bechstein,
in his Cage Birds, says, “ A young male which I had put
into the hothouse for the winter was accustomed to receive
from my hand, every time I entered, a meal-worm : this took
place so regularly, that immediately on my arrival, he placed
himself near the little jar where I kept the meal-worms.
I f I pretended not to notice this signal, he would take flight,
and, passing close under my nose, immediately resume his
p ost; and this he repeated, sometimes even striking me with
his wing, till I satisfied his wishes and impatience.” And the
Blackcap in confinement appears, as well from his habits as
from his fine song, to have been a great favourite with the late
Mr. Sweet.
The Blackcap visits all the counties along the southern
coast of England from Sussex to the Land’s End ; but, from
the communications in reference to Ornithology with which
I have been favoured by E. H. Rodd, Esq. of Penzance, this
bird is more common in the wooded districts of Cornwall of
late years than it was formerly. It visits Wales, and has
been taken, once at least, in the North of Ireland, as communicated
by Mr. Thompson of Belfast to the Zoological
Society. It visits also Suffolk and Norfolk, the northern
counties of England, and some parts of Scotland ; but I have
not been able to find any recorded notice of its appearance in
the Scottish Islands. I t is, however, included among the
summer visiters to Denmark, was seen by Mr. Hewitson in
Norway, and, according to M. Nilsson, arrives in Sweden
about the end of May, and goes as far north as Lapland.
This bird visits also the eastern and central parts of Europe.
In Germany it is called the Monk, in reference to the
hooded appearance of both male and female. I t is found in
summer in Spain and Portugal. It is an inhabitant of the
Azores, where the female is called Red Hood. It is also a
resident at Madeira ; and M. Temminck has received specimens
from the Cape of Good Hope and Senegal. I t inhabits
North Africa, is resident in the southern part of Italy
all the year, and the Zoological Society have received specimens
from Trebizond. M. Temminck further states that he
has received specimens from Japan, and one skin of a female
from Java ; and however distant these localities may appear,
these specimens present no perceptible difference either in
form or in the colour of their plumage.
In the adult male, the beak is dark horn colour ; the irides
dark brown ; all the upper part of the head above the eyes jet
black ; nape of the neck ash grey; back, wings, and tail, ash
brown; chin, throat, and breast, like the nape, ash-grey;
belly and under wing-coverts white ; under surface of quill-
feathers and tail grey; legs and toes lead colour; claws brown.