BLACKBIRD. 199 



individuals of the same species, which were directing their 

 eyes towards a circumscribed spot in a thick bush, and on 

 approaching to examine what could be the cause of so much 

 clamour, the presence of a cat was discovered. The sly 

 creature had evidently been endeavouring to escape observation, 

 and was therefore not a little annoyed at being thus made 

 the 'observed of all observers.' But the birds were determined 

 that the whole neighbourhood should know of the presence of 

 the intruder; instead of flying off they continued their 

 vociferations, and peace was not restored till she had been 

 compelled to retreat.' 



Its flight is quick and hurried, hasty and precipitate, as 

 if, for some reason or other, it were conscious that conceal- 

 ment suited it best; even if alarmed, it generally only flits 

 along for a little distance, and then turns in again to its 

 cover. If its flight be at all extended, it is even and steady, 

 but its short flittings are, as just mentioned, fitful, undulated, 

 and capricious, and in the season of incubation a series of 

 starts, a single flap of the wings, and a consequent bound. 

 When perched on a branch, it bends forward, raises or lowers 

 its tail, now and then flaps its wings, then perhaps sings, 

 and then flies to another tree or a wall, there to perform the 

 like evolutions. Often, if it thinks that it shall be passed by 

 without notice, it skulks about under cover, with the stealthy 

 tread of a Blackfeet or Crow Indian, but the dry and fallen 

 autumnal leaves betray the presence of the cautious bird, in 

 the coppice or wood through which you pass, and the 

 rustling sound of its footfall almost startles you in your 

 lonely walk, perhaps many a mile yet from home, as you 

 return from some out-lying village or distant solitary house. 

 The wind sighs among the trees, a prelude to the storm of 

 the dark night that is fast closing in around you, and the 

 daylight is but scant, but if you look closely, you will 

 catch the glance of a black eye, shy of observation, and 

 wistfully expressing the desire of its owner to be left to 

 itself. 



In the spring, summer, and autumn, the Blackbird feeds 

 on moths, beetles, and other insects and their larvae, worms, 

 snails, fruits, and seeds, such as cherries, currants, blackberries, 

 gooseberries, peas, and pears, the place of the latter being 

 supplied in winter by wheat, oats, and other grain and seeds, 

 and the berries of the hawthorn, the mountain ash, the holly, 

 and others. It sometimes does some damage by pulling up 



