FIELDFARE — BLACKBIEr*. 51 



and more extensive than in typical specimens. Another 

 peculiarity pointed out by Professor A. Newton, who kindly 

 examined the skin, is that the fifth primary in the right wing- 

 has the inner web mottled with dull white towards the tip, 

 showing an additional tendency to abnormality. Nevertheless 

 I cannot regard it as a purely abnormal variety, in the ordinary 

 sense of the expression, but rather as an instance of a peculiar 

 phase of plumage occasionally, though rarely, assumed by the 

 Fieldfare in a greater or less degree. The skin was submitted 

 to several ornithologists, but the only specimen at all ap- 

 proaching it in appearance of which I could hear was kindly 

 lent to me by Mr. J. Backhouse, jun. ; the peculiar warm 

 bro"s\ai colouring was, however, much less strongly developed in 

 Mr. Backhouse's example. 



THE BLACKBIRD. 1/ 



Titrdus merula. 



The Blackbird is a resident species, but, like so many of our 

 birds, is also migratory to a certain extent. Towards the 

 middle or close of September, and on through October, we 

 receive considerable additions to the numbers of our Blackbirds. 

 The corner of a field of standing beans sheltered by thick 

 hedgerows is often found to be full of them, for the Blackbird 

 loves concealment and is ever loth to fly far across the open ; 

 later in the season the hedges teem with numbers which resort 

 to them to feed on the ripe berries. These migrants soon pass 

 on, but leave always a good number to winter with us, far 

 more remaining during that season than is the case with the 

 Song-Thrush. The Blackbird is the earliest woodland bird to 

 open song in the morning, and at that time seems to forget his 

 shyness, as perched on the topmost twig of some tree or bush, 

 he pours forth his mellow whistle — the mellowest song of all 

 our birds, and heard to perfection on some still, warm, wet 

 ' growing ' day in May. 



In the following pages I shall make but little mention 



E 2, 



