THE BLACKBIRD 39 



ally, and is very fond of snails, dexterously breaking the shells by 

 hammering them against a stone, where often heaps of snail-shells 

 may be found broken. The song-thrush also feeds upon fruit, 

 wild and cultivated, and is particularly destructive to straw- 

 berries, currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and 

 though fond of cherries, is not given to feasting so much on pears, 

 plums and apples as the blackbird. 



The BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) belongs to the same family 

 (Turdidae) as the missel and song-thrush, all included in the sub- 

 family Turdinae, taking up its abode among plantations and copses 

 near the habitations of man. The colour of the male bird is a 

 uniform deep black, relieved only by the bright orange-yellow of 

 the bill and circle round the eyes. The female has the bill and 

 circle round the eyes blackish-brown, the throat yellowish-brown, 

 and the under-parts rusty brown. The young birds resemble the 

 females, and the males do not acquire the yellow bill till after the 

 second moult. The song of the blackbird is a fine, rich, mellow, 

 and flute-like strain, but is not so varied nor so continued as that 

 of the song-thrush. It is heard for a considerable period of the 

 year, as two or three broods are produced in a season. The nest 

 is made early in spring in a thick hedgerow, a low close bush, an 

 ivied tree or wall or even the side of a ditch. It is formed of fibrous 

 roots, small sticks, grass stems and moss, bonded internally with 

 a coating of mud and lined inside with fine dry grass. The eggs 

 are generally four or five in number, of a bluish-green colour, pro- 

 fusely spotted with brown. The young are chiefly reared upon 

 worms. The food of the blackbird consists of worms, mollusca 

 (chiefly in the egg state as regards snails and slugs), ground insects 

 and their larvae, varied with wild fruits. It is particularly fond 

 of strawberries and bush fruits, cherries, pears, plums, and some- 

 times apples, doing immense damage during dry weather when 

 other food is difficult to obtain. Albinos, or white blackbirds 

 with red eyes, are sometimes found. 



The JAY (Garrulus glandarius), included in the Corvidae or Crows 

 as a sub-family named Garrulinae, is of a light brown inclining to 

 red colour, whilst the primary wing feathers are of a brilliant blue, 

 marked out by bands of black. The forehead crest is composed 

 of white feathers with black spots, and there are black patches 

 below the eyes, whilst the quill feathers in the wing and tail are 

 coloured jet black. No wonder, therefore, that the plumage of 

 the jay is esteemed for " bird millinery." The nest of the jay is 

 generally built on low trees or shrubs about 20 ft. from the ground, 

 a thick bush being preferred. The eggs are five or six in number, 

 yellowish-white and thickly speckled with brown. The jay is of a 

 timid, restless habit, inhabiting woods, and feeds upon worms, 

 snails, cockchafers and other insects their larvae and pupae, and 

 it is said mice, eggs, and young of feathered game. It also feeds 



