240 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Though rich and full in tone it possesses little variety ; but still the Black- 

 bird's melody is one of the finest of all known birds'; for what it lacks in 

 variation it makes up in compass and richness of tone. Early morning, 

 about sunrise, and after five o'clock in the evening, in the latter part of 

 April, are perhaps the times the Blackbird's powers of song are heard to 

 best advantage. On the topmost twig of some lofty oak tree, or hid away 

 amongst the foliage of the lower branches, he will sit in the dusk of early 

 morning and warble his wild flute-like song, which floats gently on the 

 still cool air, as he greets the now glowing eastern sky, and later the 

 rising sun. Then again in the evening he sings as loud and full as in the 

 morning ; and you may note that his melody is particularly charming 

 during a passing shower or thunder-storm, even in the middle of the day. 

 Although the Blackbird warbles his delightful strains at all hours of the 

 day, still it is in the morning and evening that the lover of nature can 

 pause and listen to the bird's wild strains in fullest enjoyment ; for he 

 seems to strive his best to herald the approaching day and sing its requiem 

 in his choicest tones. The Blackbird's alarm-notes have been previously 

 noticed, and resemble most closely those of the Ring-Ouzel. The call- 

 note of the male bird in the breeding-season resembles the call-note of the 

 Robin a kind of wild piping cry, indescribably plaintive and beautiful. 

 The female bird is not near so noisy as her mate. She is perhaps still 

 more skulking in her habits, and in the breeding-season especially is rarely 

 heard to utter a sound. 



Blackbirds are extremely pugnacious creatures during the mating-season. 

 A little before the period of the vernal equinox it is no uncommon thing 

 to see male Blackbirds fighting with perfect fury, and chasing each other 

 rapidly through the branches until one conies off victorious and the other 

 slinks silently away. Most birds in the mating-season are more or less 

 pugnacious, although peaceable enough at other times ; but the Blackbird 

 may be often seen displaying animosity towards its own species at all 

 seasons of the year. The Blackbird pairs early in the season ; but its 

 nest is not found quite so early as that of the Song-Thrush or the 

 Stormcock. 



Its chief breeding-haunts are the woods, the shrubberies, pleasure- 

 grounds, gardens, and hedgerows of the highly cultivated districts. The 

 site for the nest is a varied one, embracing at times very singular situa- 

 tions. Preference, however, is given to evergreens. Its nest is placed far 

 up the ivy-covered branches of the tallest trees, or amongst the ground- 

 ivy, in the gloomy yew-trees, snugly buried under the broad-leaved 

 laurels, hid from view in the holly's impenetrable and glossy foliage, and, 

 more rarely, in the dark and frowning branches of the cedars and the 

 pines. A favourite situation for a Blackbird's nest is amongst the ivy 

 growing on walls, especially where a few stray brambles hang over to 



