i BLACKBIRD.
have Is-cn instantaneous. Tin' female, however, was not inconsolable, ami within a day or two, without the
•lightest intermission to her family arrangements, a new mate was found. All went smoothly for tho future,
and three broods were now successfully reared. It is, however, a fact that when on one occasion the newly
neijiiired hushaud had by some strange fatality taken u|> his position to sing on the identical limb on which
the late lamented had heen accustomed to warble to his mistress, her feelings appeared to be aroused, and
quitting her nest she administered not only an exceedingly noisy lecture, hut a well-intentioned thrashing
into the bargain. The cause of this strange proceeding I am unable to account for; I merely relate what
I t is, nt times, exceedingly amusing to watch closely the actions of a party of Blackbirds, gaining thereby
a slight insight into their manners and customs, A group consisting of an adult mule and female together
with a couple of immature females attracted my attention while disporting themselves on a lawn on November
11th, lssa. A yoong male was also present; be kept, however, somewhat in the background, his demeanour
while in the company of the elders being decidedly retiring. The old gentleman was apparently desirous of
paying his respects to one of the juvenile females; with upraised tail and drooping wings, his feathers also
nt times puffed out to the fullest extent, he hopped constantly in attendance—halting for a few seconds
occasionally, stretching forward his head and jerking his tnil in the most absurd manner, evidently endeavouring
to show himself off to the greatest advantage. The old female, while this performance was taking place,
Hew hither and thither, exhibiting plainly the utmost annoyance. At last her anger could no longer he
restrained : dashing suddenly at the offender she struck him instantly to the ground. Lying flat and
helpless on his back wilh outspread w in^'s, she perched on his breast and vented her rage by pecking hi tho
most savage manner at his head for ten or fifteen seconds ; she then relinquished her position, when, H it bout
the slightest signs of resentment, be sneaked quietly oil to some place of security beneath the evergreens *,
After the same manner as Thrushes, I have repeatedly noticed young Blackbirds supplying food to
birds of their own species, evidently only just out of the nest. Whether youngsters exhibiting such care
are brothers or sisters belonging to an earlier brood, or simply neighbours, it is impossible to say. At
times, however, these precocious nurses are apt to play tricks with the juveniles they profess to take
charge of. On the 10th of August, 1S52, two helpless mites bad managed to hop from beneath the shrubs
to the edge of the lawn unattended by either of their parents. A lively young female, who was actively
searching for food on the grass, at once approached and picking up in her bill a dried leaf of that hardy
evergreen the broad-leafed Mi'mo/mu*, popped it into the widely Opened mouth of the nearest fledgeling.
With a shake of the head the unpalatable morsel was immediately rejected, when it was seized again aud
thrust down the throat of the second innocent, who likewise refused to swallow it. This performance was
rcpeatitl five or six limes with similar results, till the arrival of an old bird on the scone broke up the party.
In their earliest stages, as soon as the feathers have opened, thu males are distinguishable from tho
females while still in the nest. The longer feathers of the wings do not moult the llrst autumn, and this
portion of the plumage of the males will he found on close examination considerably darker than that of the
females. Varieties pied or speckled w ith white are mil unfrequently met with. A male showing a perfectly
white bead aud shoulders look up his quarters for some time in the gardens round thu outskirts of Brighton.
On two dill'erenl occasions I was summoned by residents in the district let inspect the rarity that had invaded
their territories. At last, early in July 1*79, this conspicuous wanderer made his appearance in an out-of-door
fernery in our own garden: here bo caused such extensive and wide-spread destruction, by dragging down
• l i k u l Km utile to judge, Ihif was a family party, Ihe ]i]umii|rc u well u the cum|>iiriitiTo BIFI'I 'if the adult am] immuiure liird" 1-eiujr
itronplv roailid. As ttie :ui iniiu.it v di-|.!uid hy the •ill lru]y toward* her ipotuc, riuil eiprc»ttl iu luth a IMMI m.innrr, pii|rhl e
inertdil>h\ 1 niav slate Hint the nh"le uifnir Has alnu witnessed by i well-Ituown ornilliulopst. [t occurred en nut own Inwii neiir Ilrurht.m, mi
Ihe diitr aboie lueiitLnci].
BLACKBIRD. 3
the moss from the stones while searching for grubs, that at least a couple of barrow-loads of fragments, turn
down from the upper parts, wore lying al the foot of the rocks. Though it was possible the work at which
he was engaged would have lo lie undertaken at some future lime to cheek the ravages of the inset-, it was
necessary to put a stop to his proceed in us. In order to administer a lesson, a small trap baited with oi f
the grubs of which he bad been in quest was carefully set, the teeth being wrapped round with flannel lo
prevent severe injury. Iu spite of the precautions, a couple of foes were unfortunately broken when the
bird was captured. That be did not suffer grcafly, however, was evident, as on the following morning he
was noticed singing, balancing himself on ono leg, the crippled foot being slightly raised. The lesson
concerning the moss was nevertheless sufficient, as for the future it remained unmolested.
In the choice or a site for its nest the Blackbird greatly resembles the Thrush, though perhaps the
position, as n rule, is more carefully concealed. According to my own experience ¡1 is seldom, if over, seen at
the elevation to which the Greybird * aspires to place its cradle iu some of the covers of the southern and
eastern counties. Early iu March 1KH:., I examined a Blackbird's nest built ou a pot, hanging ¡11 a fernery,
containing a fine rout of Li'slnn TfUt ttlrr 1 : the nest, which was one of the largest and most substantially
coiMruetod I ever saw, completely filled the pot, being placed ou tin? crown of the fern, and causing the
fronds fo droop over the edges.
Though this species is decidedly more hardy, aud c inseipienlly able to hear exposure to frost and cold
with far greater ease, than the Thrush, a protracted gale at times causes thoiu to suffer excessive hardships.
Towards the end of January lS"sl, I noticed numbers of Blackbirds dial were searching for food so severely
cut up as to he incapable of making the slightest use of their feet or lege, Early in the following April
the long-conliuucd and cruel east winds greatly alloc ted the survivors of the winter storms; many broods
also perishnl through want. The old birds might he watched by Uu ujur mating circfully though hop desalt1
over the dried grass for worms and grubs for their starving young, the pirehe.l turf being at the lime as
likely to supply a meal as the surface of a f urn pike-road. Notwithstanding Ihe straits to which they were
driven, they declined to make use id' slrips of meat (both raw and cooked) placed out on tho spots they
frequented.
The disposition of the Itlaekbird is decidedly noisy and demonstrative. Throughout the broad country
in the cast of Norfolk they may commonly be seen " mobbing " some of the numerous Cuckoos frequenting
that watery district. Their well-known alarm-note in the coverts as soon as the sun disappears also
proclaims the departure of the Lniig-eami (Jul from the shelter iu which it has rested during the day. Many
a prowling member of the cat family owes ils death to my attention having been attracted while covertshooting
by Ihe warning " chuck chuck " of two or three old birds exasperated at the sight of their natural
enemy. There is no doubt that a wandering pussy is the worst of poachers, aud few suffer more from its
allaeks than our familiar friend the Blackbird : the parent birds are often killed on the nest, the young being
dragged out anil carried off.
No complaint can, with justice, be brought against the Blackbird by cither the farmer or gardener.
Like its constant companion the Thrush, this species will doubtless prey ou wall-fruit anil berries if let'l
unprotected ; very simple precautions, however, render its attempts at robbery utterly futile. Their
partiality for insects, maggots, and such like frequently leads the unfortunate birds inlo trouble, many
being taken in vermin-traps while exploring the lly-blown baits in search of food. Though dozens of
Blackbirds have come under my observation captured in Ibis manner, I never noticed a Thrush in a like
predicament.
In my opinion the song of flic Blackbird is decidedly superior to that of the Thrush. Though the
note is by no means so striking in the depth of winter, it may frequently l>c heard at thai season.