TURDUS MERULA. 273 



Also when he says — 



"In gowany glens the burnie strays 

 Where bonny lasses bleach their claes, 

 Or trots by hazelly shaws and braes 



Wi' hawthorns gray, 

 Where blackbirds join the shepherd's lays 



At close o' day." 



Yet, for all that, he wants the varied richness and power of the 

 mavis ; indeed, some say that he is merely a mocking-bird, and 

 borrows his best notes from that bird ; at least in a wild state 

 he has been known to crow like a cock. An instance is recorded 

 of his crowing near a farmyard, ever and anon varying his tune 

 with his natural song. Another, in which he mimicked the 

 cocks so successfully that when they answered his supposed 

 challenge he seemed delighted, and flapped his wings when he 

 crowed, and continued the mock rivalry ; which reminds me of 

 a valuable mocking-bird which was stolen from a Savannah 

 gentleman, who heard that a Xew York visitor was returning 

 north with a remarkable bird, and, hurrying to the vessel he 

 found that the bird in the passenger's possession was his own. 

 The new owner would not give it up, so the case went before a 

 Magistrate. The original owner said he would whistle a tune, 

 and if the bird did not repeat it he would give up his claim, 

 which was agreed to. He then began to whistle " St Patricks 

 Day." The bird listened a moment, took up the air, and 

 finished it, which settled the question. The New Yorker 

 offered 1000 dollars for the bird, which was refused. When 

 taken young the blackbird can be taught to whistle several 

 tunes. I knew one in St Andrews which whistled clearly and 

 distinctly " Owre the water to Charlie." Singularly it is one of 

 the few song birds not included in the " Wild Birds Protection 

 Act," which Acts, however, are almost dead letters, for during 

 the nesting and close time people burn heather and whins, harry 

 and shoot our blithe feathered friends with impunity. But I 

 wish our gardeners, and the public generally, would forbear 

 destroying this handsome and shy, yet half-domestic songster 

 of our gardens and groves. Then, without cages, we would 

 listen to his cheerie mellow whistle on every tall tree, and on 

 the riggings of our houses, and even churches, at all times of 

 the day. I was so struck with hearing one on the rigging of the 

 old town church that I penned some trifling verses on it : — 



A blackbird perched upon the kirk, 



And O, he whistled bonnie O, 

 While leddies fair within did smirk, 



It tried to cheer Mess Johnnie, O. 



