B L A C K -© U M I- OK- .
Merda vulgaris ; {Jico/)-.
Jitiûuilyô.JXJ&ru&t&ïf.
Gtnuÿ MERUIiA.
tf. CiiAK. B ill «early as Ipug as tlie head; $liisasgfol. at the base; slightly bendiiig towards
the point;which is rather compressed ; tine upper inaajndible emarginated; gape furnished
with a few- bristles. Nostrils basal, lateral and-oyal, pertly covered by a naked membrane.
Legs o f mean length, muscular. Toes, tln^i before and. one hehhid; the oiitef toe id«ned
at its base to the middle one, which is shorter than the ^iktis.,' Clawsslightly arcuate;
that of the hind toe the largest. Of the wings, th ev ii^ ia short, and the third and
fourth are the longest.
B L A C K OUZEL, B L A C K B I 1 D ,
i ¡lad dshiiiEqd* ifi iäA#S»j!ii*ftöii*y 'thrùtìghnent
aen
from that of 2
«d by tciupwæry w.sit»ifis fr'oui. Htó iforrh.
d, witlr íbose oí vúe u.v<
man pay in eoKsideñng. díifíjf
andfon &lk:»w*?vs
out the year, yet in »oane |tsfp$ flt ww; fkAstii
of severe winters the >.mttdu.ir in our ovfc M.
Wb*m we consider the style- of colouring, form, aid habits of
, . some other Ear opean species, we cannot bat
entitled to rank as a genus distinct and separate
I blended them. , ' -
In their habits these birds are more terrestrial than the true Thrushes, frequenting secluded copses, hedgerows
and ravines, as well as gardens and shrubberies, skulking about under the bashes, and retiring from observation
with great celerity. Towards evening they may often be seen extremely restless and clamorous, uttering
a shrill chatter as they dart from bush to bush in chase of each other before retiring to rest. It is more
solitary in its habits than the Thrush, there seldom being more than two or three in the same immediate
^ locality. There is also.» s%btdegree of difference ifi the general construction of the nest, the colour of the
eggs, and the situations chosen for the purpose of nidification, to which we may add the marked difference in
colouring between the male and tike female.
. The song of the Bla cfcbiwl, though not so melodious as that of live Thrush-, is-a. ejkme bald -■ ■ %Mch;-
wlien heard in the csahn UKKW'.gs and evenings of spring, is yei'y delightful. and rwwfcsfA jlie! SiAad a general
y; iitiqmdtoT in its febw $jfc'3fcwkhf!Vd if JpCrfeiUtb to, »mMi As, the season
offers : hi.winter it Uvea 0*1 bcrrh% Wormf*. md Vttidb, lit -'ibijHiliii IvfifligeituwB- ami otfei;?'
hiding-places ; in summer, oa ww'Bie. »aseets and dbgitf aa ii-i .‘¡jik ijiMife ifeajit* that §he: gwijtat. ¿mi
hedgerow afford. .
The Blackbird appears -to be strictly confined to jSusf-ftjje1,, >»!:-; ;';i os represented to if-'te thmahwii
'¡»pwmlaias by an interesting ami nearly ailied Species the «nd in the ^piM-ifcgions of
fkaserica by two or three other species, !jyi
It is an early breeder, often commencing the work. # ’ W^ftiiwnoti In the months of February and March,
* Is -tiding its nest in thick secluded bushes, laurel», ivy, :r- r-.-n.sely leaved covert: the nestlis constructed
•«nrttevmuJIy of moss, small twigs, and fibres plastered ••> Ifa-. -n^ernally of line dry grass: 'tbeqfp'ffiro.OBMy
f>i« in number, of a blueish green blotched with -'mJiiWh Ibitnvn.
The young of both sexes greatly resemble da- ifejchrii.', but arc generally more'spotted.
The male, with the exception of the htH «¡?«9 the orbits oi\t5i; ejes, which arc of a beautiful orange, is
Ardy of a jet blauk.
The female is of a deep umber brown int’llntog to black ; ffxe «belt, belly and thighs, Varied with da^bfw of
TW f f lf l represents a r ;• and female of the natitrid