232 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



"List to the Merle's dulcet pipe! melodious bird! 

 Who, hid behind the milk-white hawthorn's spray, 

 Whose early flowers anticipate the leaf, 

 Welcomes the time of buds, the infant year." 



Although not remarkable for compass or variety, his notes are par- 

 ticularly rich and powerful. They ring through the woods in the early 

 mornings, at intervals during the day, and again in the evening twi- 

 light, when all other songsters, except the Thrush and the Nightingale, 

 are silent. Even during heavy rain and thunder-storms, he has been 

 heard pouring forth his song with nnabated vigour. He is a great 

 imitator of the sounds made by other birds, and has been known to 

 closely copy part of the song of the Nightingale, and also of the 

 Thrush. Several instances are on record of his crowing so exactly 

 like a cock as to deceive the neighbouring farm-yard fowls, and to be 

 answered by them; and in another case he was heard to imitate the 

 cackle of a hen. 



A Blackbird's nest, containing two eggs, was found at Brompton, in 

 Yorkshire, as early as the 8th. of January, but building does not usually 

 commence with this bird, until about the end of February. The nest 

 is commonly placed in the middle of a thick bush at a height of three 

 or four feet, occasionally it is fixed in a tree, or among the ivy against 

 a wall. The materials used in the construction of the exterior are 

 roots, twigs, rushes, or coarse grass; these are plastered over internally 

 with clay or mud, and then covered with a lining of finer grass. The 

 eggs, from four to six in number, vary greatly both in size and colour, 

 most commonly they are about an inch and a twelfth in length, and 

 of a pale bluish green, speckled with light reddish brown. 



An interesting story, exhibiting the brave manner in which the 

 Blackbird will defend its offspring, is related in Mr. Morris's "Anecdotes 

 of Natural History." A cat was endeavouring to get at a nest that 

 was placed near a paled fence. The hen flew to meet her, and placed 

 herself almost within reach of the intending plunderer, uttering loud 

 screams of terror and despair. As soon as the cock bird perceived the 

 danger, he likewise screamed wildly, and settled on the fence in front 

 of th& cat, who was unable to make a spring at him in consequence 

 of the narrowness of her footing. At length, the danger increasing, 

 he made a sudden dart at puss, settled on her back, and pecked her 

 head so violently that she full to the ground, and was compelled to 

 beat a retreat 



