THE BLACKBIRD. 29 



Chirnside, near the Pistol Plantings on the 5th of March 

 1883 ;^ and a pied bird was got at Lochton, in the parish of 

 Eccles, in 1872. 



The food of this species consists chiefly of earth-worms, 

 snails, and grubs of various kinds, with the addition of 

 garden fruit in summer and autumn, and wild berries, such 

 as those of the ivy," rowan, and elder. It is very fond of 

 strawberries and cherries. On this account it is much dis- 

 liked by gardeners, although it undoubtedly makes amends 

 for at least a part of its depredations, by the destruction of 

 great numbers of noxious grubs and slugs. 



The Blackbird breaks the shells of snails, like the Song 

 Thrush, by seizing them in its bill and striking them against 

 a stone. In autumn it is often seen in considerable 

 numbers amongst turnips, where it feeds on worms and 

 insects in the drills under the leaves, and whence, on beins 

 disturbed, it generally flies rapidly away to the nearest hedge, 

 uttering its cry of alarm. It also frequents bean fields. 

 In winter haws form a favourite food, and in severe weatlier 

 it frequents the neighbourhood of houses and stackyards, 

 where it picks up waste grain and seeds of various kinds. 

 When snow is lying deep on the ground, and other small 

 wild birds are being fed with crumbs at our windows and 

 are crowding around the morsels put out for them, I have 

 sometimes observed that 



At a distance on tlie leafless tree, 

 All woe-begone, the lonely Blackbird sits : 



Full oft he looks, but dare not make approach,^ 



until, being satisfied that there is no danger, he ventures 

 forward for his share of the feast. 



The Blackbird does not congregate in flocks under ordi- 



1 Bist. Ber. Nat. Cluh, vol. x. p. 573. 



- Writing under date May 26th, 1866, Mr. Hardy says :— ' ' Ivy hemes ripe 

 in Pease Dean and Lumsden Dean— Blackbirds feasting on Vaem."—MS. Notes. 

 " J. Baillie, "A Winter's Day." 



