OUR THRUSHES. 97 



now and again sending out a ringing note of warn- 

 ing, as one or other of their brood looked up. He 

 seems to tell us when he sings that winter is past ; 

 and so he is always welcome to us. 



That universal favourite, the blackbird, with his 

 jet-black plumage and orange-coloured bill, is well 

 known to every little toddler that lives in the 

 country. " Blackie," as they call him, is the 

 favourite, as a rule, in preference to the thrush, 

 with the country people. Independently of his 

 own rich song, he has a natural talent for mimicry, 

 which dogs and cats find out to their cost. Rustic 

 children think much of him ; they will tell you that 

 he knows them all ; and indeed to credit the intelli- 

 gence displayed by him you would need to live in 

 some country house for a time, where one has been 

 reared in a cage. All the sounds that he hears, 

 especially if they are of a squeaking or whistling 

 nature, he repeats to perfection ; if he sees the dog 

 in the garden or about the house, he will whistle 

 for him exactly as his master does, and in so 

 vigorous a tone that he would lead the dog to 

 suppose that his services are required in the most 

 urgent manner. Away rushes the dog round the 



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