BLACKBIRD 



457 



although these parties break up when nesting takes place on the tree- 

 less tracts of the far north. Both fieldfares and redwings lay bluish- 

 green eggs spotted with chestnut-brown. 



Of the American robin, preferably known as the American red- 

 breasted thrush {Tardus iiiigraton'/ts), four examples were recorded as 

 British up to the close of last century, nameh', one at Dover in 1876, 

 a second near Dublin in 1891, a third near Leicester two years later, 

 and a fourth near Southend in the winter of 1894-5. Although some 

 of these may have escaped from captivit}', it is quite probable that one 

 or more may have been wild birds. 



Blackbird 

 (Turdus merula). 



The blackbird, merle, or ouzel is the type of a large 

 group of unspotted thrush-like birds which differ from 

 the typical spotted thrushes in that the two sexes 

 are unlike in colouring, and that in both the axillary feathers and under 

 wing-coverts are uniform!}- coloured, or nearly so. On account of this 

 difference the black thrushes (as 

 the group may be collectively 

 designated to distinguish it from 

 the spotted group) are referred by 

 many ornithologists to a genus by 

 themselves, the blackbird thus be- 

 coming Mcnila vulgaris, or Merula 

 incrula. Such refinement of classi- 

 fication, although it may be con- 

 venient from some points of view, 

 tends, however, to obscure the 

 close relationship of the blackbird 

 to the thrush, and if any division 

 be required one of subgeneric rank 

 would meet the requirements of the 

 case. If this course were adopted 

 the title of the blackbird would 

 become Turdus {Merula) merula. 



While the plumage of the adult 

 cock blackbird is glossy black, 

 forming a bold contrast to the 

 yellow beak and eyelids, that of the 



hen is dull umber-brown, paler on the throat and breast, which are marked 

 with dark streaks ; the beak being horn-colour, but inclining to yellow 

 with age. Young birds are blackish brown above, with Dale rufous 



BLACKBIRD MALK 



