198 BLACKBIBD. 



and despair. The cock bird, on perceiving the danger, shewed 

 the greatest distress, and uttered loud screams and outcries, 

 sometimes settling on the fence just before the cat, who was 

 unable to make a spring, in consequence of the narrowness 

 of its footing. After a little time, the cock bird flew at the 

 cat, settled on her back, and pecked her head with such 

 violence that she fell to the ground, followed by the Blackbird, 

 who succeeded in driving her away. A second time the same 

 scene occurred; the Blackbird was again victorious, and the 

 cat became so intimidated at the attacks made upon her, that 

 she gave over her attempts to get at the young ones. After 

 each battle the Blackbird celebrated his victory with a song, 

 and for several days afterwards he would hunt the cat about 

 the garden whenever she left the house. He adds that he 

 also knew an instance of a pair of Blackbirds following a boy 

 into a house, and pecking at his head while he was conveying 

 one of their young into it. He very properly observes that 

 people little think what misery they occasion to birds when 

 they deprive them of the brood which they have been cherishing 

 with so much tenderness and affection. 'The cruel parent,' 

 says an old author, 'that would encourage his childe to deprive 

 a poor birde of her own broode, right well deserveth to have 

 his own nest robbed, and to become childless.' 



The following instance of the longevity of the Blackbird in 

 confinement is recorded in the Belfast Commercial Chronicle 

 of December 25th., 1839: 'A VENERABLE BLACKBIRD. There 

 is at present in the possession of Mr. John Spence, of Tul- 

 laghgarley, near Bally men a, a Blackbird, that has arrived at 

 the wonderful age of twenty years and nearly eight months. 

 It was taken by him from the nest when young, and ever 

 since has enjoyed the very best of health. It still continues 

 to sing, and that well. He is, however, beginning to shew 

 symptoms of old age his head is getting grey, and a 

 number of white feathers are springing up on his neck and 

 breast.' 



Mr. Couch, in his interesting 'Illustrations of Instinct,' 

 remarks how when the Blackbird flies off to a closer cover, 

 it communicates an alarm to all its race, and from frequent 

 repetition this sound becomes a signal of caution, which the 

 young cannot fail to associate with the idea of danger, even 

 when no object of terror is seen. 'My attention,' he says, 

 'was once attracted to the rapidly-repeated utterance of the 

 scream of a Blackbird, and the twittering of many other 



