The Thrush Tribe. 55 



and blackest, and have the brightest yellow rims round 

 their eyes, are probably cocks. If reared from the 

 nest, they must be kept warm and fed on sop made 

 of stale white bread and milk : they are large eaters, 

 and must not be over fed; a quarter of a pound of bread 

 would be enough for four nestlings in the day ; they 

 will require a meal every two hours from sunrise to 

 sunset, and the food should be mixed twice a day ; if 

 it should turn sour it would kill them. The birds 

 must be taught when two months old if they are to 

 learn to whistle airs ; a flute or other wind instrument 

 should be played to them in the dusk of the evening, 

 and at daybreak after they have had a moderate meal, 

 giving them some delicacy as a reward when they have 

 repeated their lesson correctly. 



The Blackbird devours worms, insects, and grubs of 

 all kinds, as well as fruit ; and so, although he is 

 destructive in an orchard, he does good service to 

 farmers and gardeners. In captivity he should be fed 

 upon a mixture of animal and vegetable food, raw or 

 cooked lean beef, shredded finely and mixed with 

 bread crumbs, German paste, stale bun, and hard- 

 boiled egg, and he should have a mealworm, snail, 

 earwig, or spider occasionally. 



It is of consequence that the cage should be large, 

 whether it be made of wicker or mahogany, with 

 wooden bars. One side should be open, the other 

 boarded, and the top should be of wood, shelving 



