96 TURDUS MERULA. 



lying on the ground, they observed a large weasel stealing 

 slyly along in pursuit of its prey. When they approached it, 

 instead of running off as they expected it to do, it climbed to 

 the top of a larch tree, where it remained until my pointer was 

 brought, when they shook it down, and it made its escape. It 

 is astonishing how very soon the young know this intimation 

 of fear ; for I observed that no sooner did the old ones an- 

 nounce it, than they cowered in their nest, and appeared to be 

 in a state of great uneasiness. 



" During the whole day, except in two or three instances, 

 the Blackbirds svcallowed all the droppings of their brood. 



" Boghead, 5th January 1838." 



This last remarkable circumstance Mr Weir also found to 

 be the case with the Song Thrush, as will be mentioned in the 

 history of that species. It is therefore probable that the habit 

 is common to all the species of this genus, and perhaps to those 

 of others of the Cantatores. Many of my readers may be aware 

 that the Ruminantia, and especially the domestic cow, exhibit 

 a similar propensity, at least when their offspring is very young, 

 for they then lick up the excrement as it passes from the bowels. 

 The value of Mr Weir's observations respecting the feeding of 

 the young of this bird, and of several other species, as related 

 in the present volume, will be appreciated by the intelligent 

 reader, who may be aware that no such patient watchings have 

 ever been instituted by any ornithologist. Appended to the 

 above communication is the following note, which corroborates 

 my own remarks, as already stated : — " On the afternoon of 

 Tuesday the 26th, and on the morning of Thursday the 28th 

 of December 1837, I heard the Blackbirds singing as merrily 

 as if it had been in April or May." 



The flesh of the Blackbird is excellent, as indeed is that of all 

 our other species, although, I believe, very seldom used as an 

 article of food. The good people who unhesitatingly feed on 

 innocent lambs, gentle doves, and confiding pullets, look with 

 a kind of abhorrence on the cruel slaughterer of Blackbirds. 

 This, however, it is obvious, is mere selfishness. The bird 

 amuses them with its song, and they are displeased with its 



