270 THE BLACKBIRD. 



times plays the part of the cat by catching mice, as the 

 following fact from the Dundee Advertiser shows : — ■ 



" One of the accomplishments of a blackbird belonging to a householder 

 in Albert Street, Dundee, deserves to be recorded. This bird is so tame 

 that it is allowed perfect liberty of action ; it roams about the house, and 

 takes a trip to the door, but it never seeks to fly away. During the past 

 week it seemingly wishes to be useful as well as ornamental, for it has 

 actually caught three mice— one on Friday last — and it shows so much zeal 

 in its self-imposed work that its owner is quite elated at the prospect of 

 4 blackie' clearing his house of these troublesome creatures." 



I know another instance where a fine whistling male was 

 allowed daily to leave its cage and fly about the garden, and 

 even hedges adjoining, and there remain with others, yet always 

 returned to its cage when called upon by a familiar voice, 

 freely. So it is well-named the garden-ousel and the merle — 

 both of which the old poet, Michael Drayton, calls it in one 

 verse — 



. " The ousel near at hand, that hath a golden bill, 



As Nature him had mark't of purpose V let us see 

 That from all other birds his tunes shall different be ; 

 For with vocal sounds they sing to pleasant May, 

 Upon his dulcet pipe the merle only play." 



Shakespeare, too, in " A Midsummer Night's Dream," makes 

 Bottom the weaver sing — 



" The ousel-cock, so black of hue, 

 With orange-taiony bill ; 

 The throstle with his note so true, 

 The wren with little quill." 



This, by the way, is a compliment to the throstle, our missel 

 thrush. Tennyson, in his " Gardener's Daughter," appropriately 

 says — 



" The mellow ousel flitted in the elm, 



The redcap whistled, and the nightingale 

 Sang loud, as though he were the bird of day." 



James Montgomery also pays tribute to our golden-billed black- 

 bird — 



11 Golden bill ! golden bill ! 



Lo ! the peep of day ; 

 All the air is cool and still — 

 From the elm tree on the hill 



Chant away ; 

 While the moon drops down the west 

 Like the mate upon her nest, 

 And the stars before the sun 

 Melt like snowflakes, one by one, 

 Let thy loud and welcome lay 



Pour along ; 



Few notes, but strong. 





