58 NATURAL HISTORY [Birds. 



better than the former. I observed a pair of these in Hoy 

 through the greatest part of the summer, and imagine they 

 build among the bushes there, though with the strictest search 

 I could not discover the nest. 



Species 4. The Blackbird. 



Wil Orn. 190. Rail Syn. Av. 65. Turdus Merula, Lin. Sys. 295. Brit. 

 ZooL c 228. Brit. Zool. Must. tab. 60. Sib, Scot. 17. Ore. Blackbird, Hoy, 

 Chucket. 



THE Blackbird is found in pairs in summer in Hoy, and 

 in winter in single birds ; comes sometimes to the gardens ; a 

 very shy and retired bird, seldom seen, keeps low in the bushes, 

 and if surprised does not fly straight for ward, but escapes among 

 the roots of the trees or brushwood. 



The blackbird has, in breeding-time, a fine strong note, 

 which makes all the hills re-echo ; but in winter loses this, 

 and instead of it has only a squeaking note, like the word 

 chuck, chuck, several times repeated, whence the Hoy name. 



I have seen them elsewhere bred in a cage, and make ex- 

 cellent song-birds, if at a distance, but their pipe is so strong 

 that it is sufficient to deafen one, when placed too near. 



The colour of the blackbird is the occasion of its name in 

 English ; and in old birds a fine black, the bill yellow, as are 

 the edges of the eyelids. In young birds of any kind the co- 

 lours are not so clear as afterwards ; in this specks they are 

 a rusty black, so as not to be distinguished from the females ; 



