4 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



spotless. Size about 1.18 by .85 in. (See 

 Plate IV.) 



Time. March, April, May, June, July, and 

 even as late as August. 



Remarks. Resident. Notes : call, tsissrr, tack, 

 tack ; alarm, a loud, ringing spink, or chink, chink, 

 chink. Song powerful, and generally delivered at 

 the beginning and end of the day, or during the 

 falling of a warm summer shower, which always 

 seems to delight the heart of this highly esteemed 

 feathered vocalist. Local and other names: Merle, 

 Black Ouzel, Amzel Ouzel. A close sitter. My 

 friend Miss Robinson, of Darlington, tells me in 

 a letter that a Blackbird and a Song Thrush built 

 nests in her garden this spring (1906). The latter 

 laid four eggs, and after a day or two forsook 

 them. The former, instead of laying in her own 

 nest, took possession of that of her neighbour, 

 and commenced the work of incubation, which 

 she carried on until the nest was robbed by boys. 



YOUNG FEMALE BLACKBIRD. 



