Class II. BLACKBIRD. 309 



which it builds earlier than any other bird : the nefl: 

 is formed of mofs, dead grafs, fibres, &c. lined 

 or plaiftered with clay, and that again covered with 

 hay or fmall draw. It lays four or five eggs of a 

 bluifh green color, marked with irregular diifky 

 fpots. The note of the male is extremely fine, 

 but too loud for any place except the woods : it 

 begins to fing early in the fpring, continues its 

 mufic part of the fummer, defifts in the moulting 

 feafon ; but refumes it for fome time in Septem- 

 ber^ and the firft winter months. 



The color of the male, when it has attained its Descrip. 

 full age, is of a fine deep black, and the bill of a 

 brioht yellow : the edges of the eye-lids yellow. 

 When young the bill is duiky, and the plumage 

 of a rufty black, fo that they are not to be diftin- 

 guiflied from the females ; but at the age of one 

 year they attain their proper color. 



Le 



