THE BLACKBIRD. 



" O blackbird ! sing me something well : 



While all the neighbors shoot thee round, 

 I keep smooth plats of fruitful ground, 

 Where thou may'st warble, eat, and dwell." 



Tennyson, 



THE BLACKBIRD, whose plumage is of a pure vel- 

 vety black, with an orange-yellow bill, is a fine 

 songster. The notes, though not so various as 

 those of the thrush, still are of a more sweet, flute- 

 like tone. Besides this, he possesses the ability of 

 imitating airs which are ^histled to him : these he 

 executes with great perfection, and is said never to 

 forget a tune once learned. An anecdote is told of 



