BLACK THRUSH, OR BLACKBIRD. 99 



manner, presenting, as he generally does with species which 

 he has carefully studied, a full account of its habits. In one 

 or two cases of no great importance I should be inclined how- 

 ever to dissent from his opinion. Thus, he says, " its strains 

 are not so loud as those of the Garden Thrush ;" but I think 

 they are much louder, although probably they cannot be dis- 

 tinctly heard at so great a distance. I observe that in Lou- 

 don's Magazine are several notices respecting the alleged 

 crowing of the Blackbird. The following is so explicit, that 

 I think it leaves no doubt on the subject. " Within half a mile 

 of my residence, there is a Blackbird which crows constantly, 

 and as accurately as the common cock, and nearly as loud ; as 

 it may on a still day be heard at the distance of several hun- 

 dred yards. When first told of the circumstance, I conjectured 

 that it must have been the work of a cock pheasant concealed 

 in a neighbouring brake ; but, on the assurance that it was 

 nothing more or less than a common Blackbird, I determined 

 to ascertain the fact with my own eyes and ears ; and this day 

 I had the gratification of getting close to it, seated on the top 

 bough of an ash tree, and pursuing with unceasing zeal its 

 usual note. The resemblance to the crow of the domestic 

 cock is so perfect, that more than one in the distance were 

 answering to it, and the little fellow seemed to take delight in 

 competing with its rivals of the dunghill. It occasionally in- 

 dulged in its usual song, but only for a second or two, and 

 broke off in the middle into its more natural wdiistle. 



" Barton Bouchier, Wold Rectory, near Northampton." 



Fig. 127, Foot of Blackbird. 



