BLACKBIRD. INSESSORES. MERULA. 167 



BLACKBIRD 



MERULA VULGARIS, Ray. 

 PLATE XLV. FIG. 4., and PLATE XLIII. FIG. 2. 



Turdus Merula, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 295. 22 Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 831 Lath. 



Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 340. 50 Raii Syn. p. 65. A. 1 Will. p. 140. t. 37- 

 Le Merle, Buffi Ois. v. 3. p. 330 Id. PL EnL 2. the male, and 555. the 



female. 



Merle noir, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. v. 1. p. 168. 

 Schwartz-Drossel, Bechst. Tasschenb. Deut. p. 149 Id. Naturg. Deut. 



v. 3. p. 376 Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. p. 199 Frisch. t. 29. 

 Merula leucocephalus, varia et Candida, Briss. v. 2. p. 230. 231. 232. 

 Blackbird, Br. Zool. No. 109. t. 47 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 345. I Will. Ang. 



p. 190 Lewin's Br. Birds, 2. t. 61 Lath. Syn. 3. p. 43. 46 Id. Supp. 



p. 141 Mont. Ornith. Diet Bewick's Br. Birds, v. 1. p. 94 Pult. Cat. 



Dorset, p. 10 Low's Fau. Oread, p. 58 Shaw's Zool. v. 10. p. 225. 



THIS bird is well known as a native of the British Islands. 

 It is of a shy and restless disposition, always anxious to escape 

 from observation, and generally successful in that effort, as 

 it hops with singular celerity through the closest hedges or 

 thickets, and its presence is often only known by the note 

 it utters on alarm. It never associates ostensibly, preferring 

 a solitary life, which it passes in woods or in well inclosed 

 situations, where the hedges afford it an abundant supply of 

 provision for the winter. It also feeds upon worms and in- Food, 

 sects, and, like the Thrush, is particularly fond of the Helix 

 nemoralis, to obtain the snail of which it pursues the same 

 process as that bird *. 



The notes of the Blackbird are rich and full, but destitute 

 of that varied power of melody whjch distinguishes the song 

 of the Common Thrush. It commences building its nest in Nest, &c. 

 March, or the beginning of April ; and a thick bush, or an 



* In the beginning of November, vast flocks of Blackbirds make their 

 appearance upon our coasts, from more northern countries. They remain 

 but a few days to recruit, and then resume their flight in a south-westerly 

 direction. 



