THE BLACKBIRD. 



TURD US MERULA. 



To those who do not happen to possess a fruit- 

 garden, the presence of a Blackbird on the lawn 

 and amongst the shrubs gives unqualified satis- 

 faction. But owners of strawberry -beds think 

 otherwise ; and it is as difficult to persuade a 

 gardener to let Blackbirds alone as it is to convince 

 a keeper that the Kestrel and the Barn Owl do 

 much more good than harm. Not that we mean to 

 assert that Blackbirds do not care for strawberries, 

 for we have too often had ocular proof to the 

 contrary ; but we would remind the owners of fruit- 

 gardens referred to that there are other ways of 

 saving their fruit from sable pilferers besides shoot- 

 ing them. Indeed a moment's reflection should 

 convince the gardener that the sudden distribution 

 of an ounce and a half of No. 6 shot amongst a lot 



