312 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly November 



— county whose insects are fully known ; but with the 

 present rate of initiation of general naturalists into the 

 intricate mysteries of insect-lore, our local knowledge is 

 growing apace, and already we are able to some extent to 

 compare the moths and beetles of many of the better 

 worked. What is wanted is a headquarters for recording, 

 with men who will act as voluntary observers in every part 

 of the kingdom. This would not only expedite our local 

 knowledge of the subject, but would also greatly conduce to 

 the perfection of Entomological Science in general. 



Our Common Wild Birds, and How to know 

 Them : An Attempt to help the Young 

 Ornithologist. 



By W. Gyngell, Scarborough Field JVatura/ists' Society. 

 {Continued from p. 229.) 



The Blackbird (Turdus meruld). Having done with those 

 British birds which a visitor from the tropics to England 

 once described as " little brown birds like sparrows," with 

 the present species we will commence our rough description 

 of the larger British birds, still endeavouring to help those who 

 have not yet opened their eyes to the bird life around them. 

 It is almost impossible for the poorest and least favoured 

 resident of Britain, or at least England, to take a walk in a 

 country lane, a town park, or by suburban gardens, without 

 seeing and easily knowing the above-named bird, which, 

 though much larger than a sparrow, is much less than a 

 tame pigeon. It frequents gardens, low trees, and more 

 especially hedgerows, and when disturbed flies away 

 uttering a quick, loud, and aggresive alarm note — •" cAuck-it, 

 eye, kit-eye, kit-eye, kit-eye, kit." When it alights it always 

 raises its tail. The bird being entirely black, except for its 

 rich orange-coloured beak, it is very easily identified, and it 

 being also a common cage bird, it needs no further descrip- 

 tion. When we know the cock bird we shall easily identify 

 the hen, which is of a deep brown colour in plumage and 

 beak. 



