154 A GOOD MIMIC. 



In addition to its own native melody, this bird may be 

 taught to imitate the strains of other songsters, although it 

 is not a very apt scholar. It has been known to whistle a 

 tune very correctly, and also to crow like a cock. Mr. 

 Barton Bouchier of Wold rectory, Northampton, relates an 

 instance of this accomplishment possessed by a wild bird. 

 He had heard the crow, and conjectured that it must have 

 been uttered by a cock pheasant ; but at length, he says, 

 i I had the gratification of getting close to the bird seated 

 on the top bough of an ash tree. The resemblance to the 

 crow of the domestic cock is so perfect, that more than 

 one in the distance were answering to it, and the little 

 fellow seemed to take delight in competing with its rivals 

 of the dunghill. It occasionally indulged its usual song, 

 but only for a second or two, and broke off in the middle 

 into its more natural whistle.' 



We have said that old writers called this bird the Merle. 

 They had also another name for it, the Woofil or Woosel, 

 probably Ouzel ; both of these names occur in some lines 

 in Douglas's i Polyolbion : ' 



The Woofil near at hand, that hath a golden bill, 

 As Nature him had markt of purpose to let us see 

 That from all other birds his tune should different be ; 

 For with their vocal sounds they sing to pleasant May ; 

 Upon his dulcet pipe the Merle doth only play.' 



In Shakspeare we have another variation of this term : 



The Woosel Cock so black of hue, 

 With orange tawny bill. 



We might quote page after page of poetry which has 

 been written in honour of this bird; but our space is 

 limited, and therefore we must be content with one piece 

 by an unknown author : 



AFTERNOON SONG OF THE BLACKBIRD. 



How soft the lovelight of the West reposes 



On this green valley's cheery solitude, 

 On the trim cottage with its screen of roses, 



On the grey belfry with its ivy hood, 

 And murmuring mill-race, and the wheel that flings 

 Its bubbling freshness while the Blackbird sings. 



