THE BLACKBIKD 9 



and shrubs, has just before the critical moment of action started 

 some ill-omened Blackbird. Out bursts the frantic alarum, heard 

 at a great distance ; the intended victim catches the alarm, once 

 snuffs the air to discover in what direction the foe lies concealed, 

 and bounds to a place of security. A somewhat similar note, not, 

 however, indicative of terror, real or imagined, is uttered when the 

 bird is about to retire for the night, and this at all seasons of the 

 year. He would merit, therefore, the title of ' Bellman of the woods '. 

 Neither of these sounds is to be confounded with the true song of 

 the Blackbird. This is a full, melodious, joyful carol, many of the 

 notes being remarkable for their flutelike tone — ' the whistling 

 of the Blackbird ' — and varying greatly in their order of repetition ; 

 though I am inclined to believe that most birds of this kind have 

 a favourite passage, which they repeat at intervals many times 

 during the same performance. 



The song of the Blackbird does not meet the approbation of 

 bird-fanciers : ' It is not destitute of melody,' says Bechstein, 

 ' but it is broken by noisy tones, and is agreeable only in the open 

 country'. The art of teaching the Blackbird is of olcl date, for we 

 find in Pepys' Diary, May 22, 1663, the following passage : 

 ' Rendall, the house carpenter at Deptford, hath sent me a fine 

 Blackbird, which I went to see. He tells me he was offered twentj^ 

 shillings for him as he came along, he do so whistle. 23d. Waked 

 this morning between four and five by my Blackbird, which whistled 

 as well as ever I heard any ; only it is the beginning of many tunes 

 very well, but then leaves them and goes no further.' 



The song of the Blackbird is occasionally heard during the mild 

 days of winter, but it is not until spring sets in that it can be said 

 to be in full, uninterrupted song. It then repairs to some thick 

 bush or hedge, especially at the corner of a pond, and builds its 

 nest, a bulky structure, the framework of which is composed of 

 twigs and roots ; within is a thin layer of mud lined with small 

 fibrous roots, bents, and moss. The nest contains four or five 

 eggs, and the young birds are fed with worms. In the breeding 

 season Blackbirds are far more venturesome than at any other 

 time, as they frequently select a garden in which to build their 

 nest, with the double object, perhaps, of procuring plenty of worms 

 for their nestlings, and of launching them when fledged where 

 they will have great facilities for regaling themselves on summer 

 fruits. In such localities the appearance of a cat near their nest 

 greatly excites their wrath. From being timid they become 

 very courageous, scolding with all their might, darting down so 

 near as almost to dash in her face, and generally ending by compelling 

 her to beat a retreat. 



The female Blackbird differs materially from the male, its plumage 

 being of a dingy brown hue, the breast light and spotted, the beak 

 dark brown with yellowish edges. White and pied specimens of 



