(51) ORDER, PASSERES, (Linn.) BLACK-CAP.

The BLACK-CAP, (Motacilla Atricapilla,) Mock-Nightingale, Nettle-creeper, or Nettle-monger, inhabits England, Europe, and Siberia; it is found also at Madeira, and there called TintaNegra. It is a migratory bird, arriving in this country in April, and leaving it sometime in the autumn; its winter retreat is not known; it is, however, occasionally seen here in January. It is between five and six inches long. The head of the male is black, back greyish-brown, with a tinge of green; beneath ash-colour. Three or four varieties. The female is larger than the male, and has the crown of the head of a rust-colour. Builds generally in low bushes, but sometimes in an old ivy-tree. Eggs four or five, pale reddish-brown, mottled with a deeper colour, sprinkled with a few dark spots; the male and female sit upon the eggs in turn. Feeds on insects, and also on the berries of the spurge laurel, service, and especially ivy. Has, it is said, in Italy, two broods in a year; in this country only

one.

The black-cap may with propriety be called the English Mocking-bird; it has been heard to sing the notes of the Blackbird, Thrush, Nightingale, Redstart, and Sedge-Warbler, besides its own peculiar whistle, which is most delightful; it makes also a noise resembling that of a pair of shears used in clipping a fence, which is also the noise made by its young. See the paper by Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear, before referred to in the Introduction.

THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG.

Motacilla Luscinia.-LINNÆUS.
Sylvia Luscinia.-LATHAM

Sweet is the time when all the fields
Their loveliest robes assume;
And sweet the time when lilies shed
Their elegant perfume..

But sweeter far than these the time

When, on his eager wings,
My love returning to his bower

An evening descant sings.

Sweet morn, sweet eve, and sweet the day,
When spring, with budding rose,
Advancing smiles, with liberal hand,
Rich fragrance round him throws.

But, oh! how sweeter far the time
When, at the midnight hour,
My love pours out to me his soul

In notes of magic power.*

For a description of the NIGHTINGALE'S SONG, see the Introduction; for its form, colours, habits, &c. see note (5.)

* It is here presumed that the female, as well as the male nightingale, sings; the fact, however, is doubtful: the reader will, it is hoped, pardon the poetical licence.

THE BANQUET.

Quæ virtus et quanta, boni, sit vivere parvo,

Behold now the banquet! And, first, we remark,
That the banqueting-hall was a large shady park;
The table a glade-cloth a carpet of green,

Where sweet-smelling shrubs strew'd about might be

seen.

The lilac put forth her delights in the vale;

Other spring-flowers' odours were mix'd with the gale
With encouraging smile nature sat at the feast;
Her converse a charm that enraptured each guest.
The viands were various to suit every taste,
Got together by magic, assisted by haste:
The dishes, all simple, no surfeit produce ;
Nor did wine's effervescence excite to abuse.

There was CORN-wheat, oats, barley, for many a Fowl; There was grass for the Goose, and a mouse for the OWL.

There were pease for the Roox, as an elegant treat; For the CROW there was carrion, he glories to eat. The BULFINCH's feast was some buds from the plum, That, torn fresh from the tree, made the gardener look glum.

For PHEASANTS and NIGHTINGALES, ants' eggs were found;

And flies for the SWALLOWS in numbers abound.

For the SEA-GULL was many a cock-chafer grub; Many WARBLERS pick'd worms from the tree or the shrub ;

The SEA-BIRDS directed attention to fish;

The Duck partook almost of every dish.

For the SWAN were some water-plants pluck'd from the pond;

Of fish the KING-FISHERS evinc'd they were fond. The DIVERS, GREBES, GUILLEMOTS, WATER-RAILS,

too,

On the dishes of fish all instinctively flew.

For the GOLDFINCH was groundsel, a delicate bit;
There was sunflower-seed for the saucy TOMTIT.

For the CRANE was an eel; for the THRUSH was a snail;

And barley for PARTRIDGE, for PIGEON, and QUAIL. For the CUCKOO, an earthworm-his greatest delight; Some HAWKS, of fowl, flesh, or fish, seiz'd what they might;