The Blackbird. 69 



four. The beak of the male is of a bright orange colour, and 

 about an inch long; the eye is dark brown, and the eyelids 

 orange, all the plumage is of a rich velvety black. 



The female is rather larger than her mate, of a brownish 

 black colour, redder on the breast and greyer on the belly ; 

 her throat is slightly spotted with different shades of brown. 



Albino specimens of this bird are not very uncommon, pied 

 still less so, and a cinnamon variety has also been met with. 



Even in the nest the males are distinguishable from their 

 sisters by their darker plumage, but do not assume their adult 

 dress until the spring. 



The Blackbird, like most of the Thrush family, is not a 

 migratory, but a stationary bird, much attached to the locality, 

 wood, copse, or garden where he was born; nothing but the 

 most dire distress in very severe weather causing him to for- 

 sake his native place, to which he invariably hastens back 

 as soon as the return of more genial weather permits him to 

 do so. 



The Blackbird is usually kept in solitary confinement; but 

 a pair will occasionally, it is said, breed in a garden aviary. 

 I recollect seeing a female of this species very busy making 

 a nest in a box, hung up in the hope that she would use 

 it, in a large aviary in the ]\Ielbourne Botanical Gardens, but 

 her mate seemed quite indifferent to her proceedings. Whether 

 the same fate overtook him that is related of a similar un- 

 gallant husband of this species I cannot say; but it is said 

 that the lady, in the latter case, enraged by her spouse's 

 conduct, fell upon him one day, and being the stronger of 

 the two, killed him outright. 



There are usually three broods during the season, the female 

 laying from four to six eggs each time. The young are easily 

 reared on white bread or blenoir and milk, a little raw meat, 

 and any insects that can be obtained: the best time to take 

 them from the nest is when the quills are beginning to sprout; 

 they have no idea then of their natural note, and may be 



