120 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



failing to elevate his long tail for a moment just 

 after alighting. He is ever shy and wary, resents 

 close observation, and never fails to return to the 

 friendly cover if approached. He searches for food 

 in the same halting suspicious way that characterizes 

 his congeners. This species is somewhat pugnacious, 

 not only to its own kind, but to other birds that may 

 intrude upon its particular haunt. Combats are of 

 frequent occurrence between cock birds during the 

 mating season. 



The song of the Blackbird usually begins in 

 February. We do not think this species ever 

 regains its voice after losing it in summer until the 

 return of the following spring : no warm spell in 

 winter will ever coax it into song. Towards the 

 end of February he begins to sing, and continues 

 in fine voice until the end of May ; throughout June 

 there is a very perceptible falling off in his music, 

 and in July his voice is finally hushed until another 

 love season calls it forth anew. The notes of the 

 Blackbird are rich and full and flute-like, but un- 

 fortunately the song lacks variety and length. It 

 is all too short, the clear musical notes are too 

 spk ndid to form so brief a song ; and not only so, 

 the bird has a most irritating habit of spoiling his 

 own performance by frequently introducing a few 

 harsh notes or letting his song end with them. 

 This usually happens when the singer is disturbed 

 by the a; pearance of a rival. The Blackbird is a 



