THE BLACKBIRD. 



31 



Like the Song Thrush, the Blackbird is a great favourite 

 with boys on account of its early nesting in spring, and they 

 love to search for the nest and handle the speckled eggs. 

 It is to be hoped that but seldom in Berwickshire 



The truant schoolboy's eager bleeding hands, 

 Their house, their all, tears from the bending bush. 



Grahaime, Birds of Scotland . 





