EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 181 



THE BLACKBIRD. 

 (Merula morula.)* 



Plate 50, Figs. 11, 12. 



Throughout Great Britain, wherever trees abound, the Black- 

 bird is very commonly met with, and occasionally frequents the 

 wild mountain-wastes, but only near the upland farms or in gar- 

 dens or orchards on the border-lands of the moor. The Blackbird 

 is a more or less constant resident in every country in Europe 

 and North Africa ; but its range does not extend very far north. 

 In Norway, in consequence of the milder climate caused by the 

 Gulf-stream, it breeds up to the Arctic circle ; but in Russia it 

 does not appear to range further north or further east than the 

 valley of the Volga. 



In form the Blackbird's nest is somewhat shallow, and is 

 usually a large, bulky structure. 



The eggs of the Blackbird are from four to six in number, 

 although this is in some few cases exceeded, for nests have been 

 known to contain eight eggs. They differ considerably in size, 

 form, and colour ; some specimens are exceptionally large, others 

 small ; some are quite pear-shaped, others almost round. The 

 usual colour is a bright bluish-green, spotted, streaked, clouded, 

 and blotched with rich reddish-brown and various tints of purple. 

 Some specimens have most of the spots and streaks round the 

 large end of the egg in a zone or band ; others are finely blotched ; 

 whilst some specimens are so richly marked as to hide all trace 

 of the ground-colour. Varieties of the Blackbird's eggs are occa- 

 sionally met with which are very similar to the eggs of the 

 Starling, pure blue and spotless. The eggs vary from 1*35 to 1 

 inch in length, and in breadth from 0"9 to 0"79 inch. 



THE RING OUZEL. 

 (Merula torquata.)\ 



Plate 50, Fig. 10. 



The range of the Ring Ouzel in Great Britain is pretty much 

 restricted to the moorland wastes and northern mountains. On 



* Turdus merula — Saunders, Manual, p. 13. 

 f Turdus torquatus — Saunders, Manual, p. 15. 



