BLACK THRUSH, OR BLACKBIRD. 97 



destroyer. Yet, when it has the audacity to appropriate a few 

 cherries, gooseberries, pears, or other fruit, it is very much in 

 the way of receiving some grains of No. 5, from those who would 

 hesitate to shoot it unless in anger. Its fondness of fruit is 

 scarcely counterbalanced by its helping to clear the gardens of 

 snails and worms ; but it amply repays all damage by its song, 

 which, in some respects is unrivalled. The period at which 

 it is in prime condition as an article of food, is from the be- 

 ginning of October to the end of February, unless a snow-storm 

 or hard frost should occur ; and even then, it retains its con- 

 dition much longer than the other Thrushes, excepting the 

 common species, for it still finds a supply of snails under the 

 hedges. The Blackbird is frequently kept in cages, where it 

 sings with nearly as much effect, even in the midst of a crowded 

 city, as in its wild haunts, although the natural associations of 

 cultivated scenery, and gentle emotions, are then entirely lost. 

 Very often, however, it is taught to whistle a tune of some 

 kind, and is thus rendered an object of admiration to those who 

 have little relish for nature, unless they can distort her so as to 

 suit their depraved tastes. The young are easily reared when 

 taken from the nest. 



Young. — The bill is dark-brown, paler towards the edges ; 

 the iris brown ; the feet dusky. The general colour of the 

 plumage above is dusky brown, each feather with a longitudinal 

 median yellowish streak ; the wing-coverts tipped with a tri- 

 angular spot of the same. The lower parts brownish-white, 

 each feather with a terminal spot of brown ; the throat and 

 fore-neck whitish, streaked with dusky spots, the breast and 

 sides of the neck tinged with red. 



Progress toward JSIaturity. — After the first moult, which 

 commences in September, and is completed by the end of No- 

 vember, the plumage of the males is in some almost uniformly 

 brownish-black, while in others the fore-neck, and especially 

 the breast, are more or less lunulated with light-brown and 

 grey. In all, the auricular coverts are brownish-black, with- 

 out light-coloured shafts, which is never the case in the young 

 females. In some the bill is all brownish-black, in others of 

 VOL. ir. H 



