THE BLACKBIRD. 37 



is wavering and fitful, and the bird suddenly darts 

 into the place which it selects, and instantly settles. 

 During the breeding season, as remarked by 

 Macgillivray, its flight is peculiar; for then the 

 female, especially, moves through the air as if by 

 starts, giving a single flap of wing followed by a 

 considerable interval, and then continuing its 

 course. 



In regard to its nesting, little need here be said, 

 the bird being too well known to render any de- 

 scription of nest and eggs requisite. The assiduity 

 with which both parents feed their young has been 

 proved by the published observations of Mr. Weir, 

 who, on watching a pair of Blackbirds for an entire 

 day, ascertained that between 2.30 A.M. and 9 P.M. 

 the male fed the young forty-four times and the 

 female fed them sixty-nine times. 



We may mention one curious fact with regard to 

 the nesting perhaps not generally known namely, 

 that the Blackbird will occasionally pair with the 

 Thrush. Two or three such instances have been 

 known to occur. One is mentioned by Macgillivray 

 (vol. ii. p. 92) ; another is recorded in the Magazine 

 of Natural History (vol. vii. p. 599). In the latter 



