Upon the whole, there is reason for coming to the conclusion that our Black-Cap is the bird alluded to by Aristotle. Ray seems to have been of this opinion, for he thus records it in his Synopsis' :—"Atri eapilk tire Ficedula, Aldrov. ; IuxaAls et MeAa-ysdpooes, Ortecis ; the Black-Cap." It occurs frequently in the greater portion of Europe, through the northern and eastern parts of which it is widely diffuaed. says that it is rare beyond the Apennines and Pyrenees. C. Bonaparte notes it as permanent and common near Rome. It visits the southern coasts of England, from Sussex to the Land's End. It visits Wales, and has been taken in the north of Ireland. It visits also Suffolk and Norfolk, and the northern counties of England. It is a summer visitor in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Lapland.
The male Black-Cap is nearly 6 inches in length, and about 4A drachms in weight. Upper part of the head black ; back of the neck ashy brown ; upper parts of the body gray, with a greenish tinge ; quills and tail dusky, edged with dull green ; breast and belly light ash colour; legs and feet bluish-gray, or lead-colour ; bill brown ; hides dark hazeL The female is of larger size ; the crown of the head is of an umber brown or rust-colour; and the plumage generally is darker, and more inclining to greenish than it is in the male.
The plumage of the young when they leave the nest resembles that of the female.
Gardens, orchards, and thick hedges are the favourite haunts of the Black-Cap ; and there, among brambles and nettles, or in some low hush, its nest is built. Dry stalks of goose-grass and a little wool, lined with fibrous roots, and frequently with a few long hairs, with now and then a little moss on the outside, form the structure. Four or
five, sometimes six eggs of a reddth-brown, weighing about 35 grains, mottled with a darker colour, and sometimes dotted with a few ashy specks, are then deposited. Pennant speaks of a nest which he dis covered in a spruce fir. Temminck mentions the hawthorn-bush as the most frequent place.
The Black-Cap in a state of nature is with difficulty seen when singing, at which time it seems to take pains to secrete itself. White however, who saw it in this act, says that while warbling the throat is wonderfully distended. • In captivity it seems to be a great favourite not only from its song but from its attractive qualities. Even in a state of nature it is mocking bird, and when caged it soon learns the notes of the night ingale and canary. The female is also, but in a limited degree, a songster.
Bechatein speaks of the striking affection which it shows for its mistress :—" It utters a particular sound, a more tender note to welcome her ; at her approach he darts against the wires of his cage, and by a continued fluttering, accompanied with little cries, ho seems to express his eagerness and gratitude. A young male, which I had put in the hot-house for the winter, was accustomed to receive from my hand every time I entered a meal-worm ; this took place so regu larly, that immediately on my arrival he placed himself near the little jar where I kept the meal-worms. If I pretended not to notice this signal, he would take flight, and, passing close under my nose, imme diately resume his post ; and this he repeated, sometimes even striking me with his wing, till I satisfied his wishes and impatience."