86 TURDUS AIERULA. 



the hedge or bush ; but I have seen Song Thrushes feeding in 

 the middle of a field nine acres in extent. They are also much 

 wilder than the Thrushes. If you wish to shoot one in a hedge 

 row, unless you succeed at once, he will lead you a wild-goose 

 chase, and then fly off, wishing you better sport farther off. 

 Blackbirds seldom mob a cat unless when they have young. 

 When gooseberries are in season, you may see them feeding 

 from sunrise to sunset, except when they betake themselves to 

 the pond to wash. In the winter they disperse over the 

 country, feeding on the different wild fruits in the hedges, and 

 on slugs and worms in the pastures. When hard-pressed for 

 food during a snow-storm, they frequent the stack-yard. The 

 female sits thirteen days, the male singing till the young are 

 hatched, after which he is seldom heard till the labours of nidi- 

 fication again commence. On the ] 8th of October I heard a 

 Blackbird sing, although in a very indistinct manner ; but 

 previous to this, the last time I heard either this species or the 

 Thrush, was about the middle of July." 



The sides of hedges and walls are favourite places of resort, 

 for there it readily procures worms and snails. In hard weather 

 it often eats the berries of the hawthorn, which it swallows 

 whole, and betakes itself to the corn-yards, where it picks up 

 seeds chiefly on the ground. When searching for food, it hops 

 or leaps with great alacrity, keeping its tail a little raised, and 

 its wrings loose ; and when perched on a tree, twig, or wall, it 

 generally elevates its tail, unless disposed to doze, in which 

 case it draws in its neck, rufiles its plumage, tucks up its wings, 

 and allows the tail to droop. When disturbed, it flies off 

 uttering a loud chuckling noise, which, although clear and 

 shrill, reminds you of the chatter of the magpie ; and you may 

 pursue it from one part of a hedge to another, until you obtain 

 it, for it seldom shifts to a great distance. Although thus 

 easily procured, it is yet decidedly shy, and in this respect differs 

 greatly from the Song Thrush, which imagmes itself secure at 

 a very short distance. 



The flight of the Blackbird over an open space is steady, 

 without undulations ; but along the hedges is wavering and 

 fitful, and the bird suddenly darts into the place which it 

 selects, and instantly settles. During the breeding season its 



