MERULID^E. 



try every season ; and those thus reared, it is believed, do 

 not migrate. 



The Blackbird frequents hedges, thickets, plantations, 

 and woods. They are shy, restless, and vigilant, frequent- 

 ing the ground under cover of evergreens and other shrubs 

 that serve to conceal them ; and if disturbed they take 

 wing with a vociferous chattering cry of alarm, and after 

 a short flight turn suddenly into some thick brake or 

 hedgerow to avoid further pursuit. 



The food of the Blackbird varies considerably with the 

 season. In the spring and early part of the summer it con- 

 sists of the larvae of insects, with worms and snails, the 

 shells of which are dexterously broken against a stone to 

 get at the soft body of the animal within : as the season 

 advances, they exhibit their great partiality for fruit of 

 various sorts, and their constant visits to the garden bring 

 upon them the vengeance of the gardener, whose gun is 

 ever ready at hand to repel or destroy the numerous in- 

 truders. When, however, the enormous number of insects 

 and their larvae, with the abundance of slugs and snails, 

 all injurious to vegetation, which are eaten by Blackbirds 

 throughout a great portion of the year, are duly considered, 

 it may fairly be doubted whether the value of the fruit is 

 not counterbalanced by services performed, and I join in 

 the recommendation of the compassionate author of the 

 poem on the Birds of Scotland, who says, 



" Scare, if ye will, his timid wing away, 

 But, oh, let not the leaden viewless shower, 

 Yollied from flashing tube, arrest his flight, 

 And fill his tuneful, gaping bill with blood." 



GKAHAME. 



The song of the Blackbird is more remarkable for power 

 and quality of tone than for compass or variety. It is 

 usually much too loud except for the open air, and the 



