40 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



' The food of the Blackbird resembles that of the Song 

 Thrush, to which he is indeed closely allied. In spring 

 and summer he feeds upon worms, snails, slugs, larvae, 

 and seeds. Of fruit also he is decidedly fond ; goose- 

 berries, blackberries, and, above all things, cherries, are 

 highly appreciated. In winter his fare is principally 

 composed of wheat, oats, the berries of the hawthorn, 

 the holly, and others then in season. A great outcry is 

 often raised against the poor Blackbird on account of 

 t the fruit he is supposed to have taken from the garden 

 in spring and summer. Surely he who would grudge 

 him a few cherries hath " no music in his soul," or he 

 would not deal so churlishly with the sable musician. 

 It is probable, however, that, quite independently of his 

 vocal attractions, the Blackbird confers solid obligations 

 upon the gardener, and so deserves rather his com- 

 mendation than his condemnation. In support of this 

 view, Mr. Adams, in his Smaller British Birds^ quotes a 

 writer in Chambers 's Journal, who relates that a grass- 

 plot attached to a country-house was observed to be 

 visited by a number of blackbirds, and to be completely 

 ploughed up by their beaks. The owner of the property, 

 being unwilling to shoot them, caused the plot to be 

 dug up in several places, to discover the cause of their 

 proceedings, and found it to be overrun with the larvae of 

 chafers. The birds were left in undisturbed possession, 

 and although the walls were covered with ripe fruit, they 

 .left it untouched, and devoted their attention to the 

 grubs, which they entirely destroyed, and the grass-plot 

 .resumed its original appearance. 



The song of the Song Thrush and Blackbird may 

 readily be distinguished. That of the former may be 



