OBSERVATIONS ON A PAIR OF BLACKBIRDS. 209 



overhead. Matins being over, he descends to the nearest plot 

 of grass, and earns a tasty and bountiful repast by the simple 

 exertion of pulling worms out of their burrows. The rest 

 of the day is spent in varied pursuits — courting his mate, 

 plundering the fruit garden, or extracting the luscious con- 

 tents of snail shells. If the weather is dry and the ground 

 parched, the worms go down deep and the snails hide them- 

 selves, and he has more difficulty over obtaining the supply 

 of food. 



In a dry east wind in early spring his lot need excite the 

 envy of no one, the night is spent on a branch exposed to the 

 steady blowing of the piercing wind, the dawn breaks coldly 

 on the earth, and beneath leaden skies he breakfasts on 

 frozen haws or holly-berries, no juicy worm or unctuous slug, 

 and perhaps no water to drink by reason of the frost. 



Those who feed the birds in winter will please note that 

 the birds need water during frost, and that bread well soaked 

 in hot water, and not squeezed dry is held in high esteem 

 in feathered circles. A protracted frost is fatal to these 

 birds, arid even a comparatively short spell of cold weather 

 will leave them so weak that they may almost be taken by 

 the hand. 



Since the autumnal moult the cock blackbird has quite 

 changed his appearance, being much more heavily speckled 

 with white than formerly. 



We intend to use all the means in_,our power to encourage 

 the pair to build on our premises this spring, and to this end 

 we are diligent in supplying them with every dainty that 

 will attract them. We find that grapes, chopped dates, 

 sweetened porridge, and rotten apples are eagerly devoured, 

 and we strew their favourite haunts with these delicacies. 

 If we could secure an absolute immunity from cats, we should 

 be doing much to render our garden a pleasant asylum for 



