4 
On March 26th, 1910, I found a pair of Blackbirds 
( Turdus merula) building in a pile of sticks in a position 
which enabled one to approach within a few feet without 
being seen by the birds. Building proceeded in a leisurely 
MALE BILACKBIRD REMOVING /@ces OF YOUNG 
(Photographed by C. K. Siddall) 
manner, and it was not till March 31st that the nest was 
completed. Both birds took part in building. On April 1st 
the first egg was laid, and on April 5th the female com- 
menced to sit on a clutch of four eggs. During incubation 
I did not see the cock sitting, nor did I see him carrying 
food tothe hen. On April 17th four young were hatched 
out. When the young birds were two days old I found the 
male bird covering them. On April 20th I examined the 
nestlings and found down on the skull, on the dorsal tract, 
and pen feathers showing on the wings. I was interested 
on April 22nd to see the female bring a ‘‘ snake millipede” 
to the nest and feed the young with it. As far as I could 
judge, however, fully 50 per cent. of the food taken to the 
young consisted of earthworms. 
