AN ARCADIAN CALENDAR 



thrush's. A starling or a sedge- warbler may imitate easily 

 many thrush-notes, but hardly the blackbird's whistle. 

 His ludicrous alarm-note is another matter. A black- 

 bird was disturbed in some sedges, and went away with 

 the usual terrified cackling. Instantly a sedge-warbler 

 echoed the cry in mocking tones, just as if he would 

 say, " Any fool can do that! " 



THE tennis-lawn in early morning is the scene of the 

 blackbird duel, and the affair is carried 

 Blackbird through punctiliously. The aggressor, re- 

 Duellists splendent in shining black, with orange 

 spear, advances, with hops and runs, from 

 the holly hedge where he will nest, stopping at striking 

 distance of his rival. He, too, cuts a gallant figure, but 

 has a faint heart, and retreats a few yards, and again at 

 the next demonstration. When he is driven to the edge 

 of the lawn the challenger falls back to the holly fort. 

 Whereupon his rival follows. All begins again and the 

 affair goes on by the hour, morning after morning, 

 without the loss of a feather. 



BLACKBIRDS and thrushes have much in common, and 

 live on the friendliest terms, yet have 

 Mavis habits as different as their contralto and 

 and soprano songs. The thrush has by far the 



Merle longer song-period, and has been singing 



all the Winter through, while most black- 

 birds still withhold their richer lay. The blackbird has 

 the more skulking disposition, but if annoyed by cat 

 or weasel shows a finer fighting spirit than his cousin. 

 The thrush is the first to nest, and is now prospecting 

 for sites in the evergreens. 

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