225 



BLACKBIRD THRUSH. 

 (Turdus Merula.) 



Tu. ater rostro palpebris pedibusquefidvis. 



Black Thrush, with the beak, eye-lids, and feet fulvous. 



Turdus Merula. Lin. Syst. Nat. \. 2Q5. 22. Lin. Faun. Suec. 



220. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 831. Brlss. 2. 22?. 1O. Lath. 



Ind. Orn. 1. 340. 5O. Turt. Brit. Faun. 1. 36. 65. 

 Merle. Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. 3. 330. t. '2Q.Buff. PI. Enl. 2. 



male 555. female. 

 Blackbird. Pen. Brit. Zoo/, lop. 4?. Pen. Arct. Zool. 2. 



345. ]. Albin. Birds. 1. 57. Len-in. Brit. Birds. 2. 6l. 



Lath. Gen. Syn. 3. 43. 46. Lath. Syn. Sup. 141. 46. Mont. 



Brit. Birds. 1. Bewick. Brit. Birds, \.Q4. 



THIS well-known bird is about ten inches in 

 length : the male is entirely of a deep black when 

 arrived at maturity : the beak and orbits of the 

 eyes are yellow: the females and young birds are 

 of a dark rusty brown, with dusky beaks and eye- 

 lids : it varies in having the head, part of the 

 wings, and behind the eyes, white ; also in being 

 wholly of a pure white ; and again is found varie- 

 gated with black and white. 



Its song is a shrill kind of whistle of various 

 notes, which it commences early in the spring, 

 and is very loud : it may be taught to whistle a 

 variety of tunes, and will even imitate the human 

 voice : it begins to build very early : its nest is com- 

 posed of green moss, fibrous roots, and such-like 

 materials ; the inside is plaistered with earth, and 

 lined with fine dry grass j it is generally placed in 



v. x. p. i. 15 



