BLACKBIED. 203 



the cage was in a potatoe-garden, and he would fly to the 

 low end of the garden and creep up the furrow, so that it 

 was impossible to see him until he had finished his duty, 

 when he flew off with great noise. The hen never appeared, 

 and it was supposed she had been killed. To all that is 

 here stated I was a witness.' 



A chatter, somewhat resembling that of the Magpie, is 

 frequently uttered, especially in the spring season, the wings 

 being fluttered and the body bent forward at the same time, 

 as if overbalanced; an advance is made, and the posture and 

 the note repeated, particularly if the bird be alarmed or excited: 

 he has also a 'chink, chink.' One has successfully imitated 

 the song of the Nightingale: another the cawing of a Crow; 

 and another attempted the chuckling of a Hen. One, which 

 was kept tame in a house without being confined in a cage, 

 has been known, when irritated, not only to peck with its 

 bill, but to rise and strike with its claws, after the manner 

 of a Cock. The Blackbird frequently scares away with loud 

 cries, or at least endeavours to do so, any supposed enemy, 

 even from the nests of other birds: 'proximus ardet Ucalagon,' 

 and he fears that his own turn may be the next. 



Edward D. Swarbreck, Esq., of Thirsk, writes me word that 

 he has heard it sing on the morning of the 21st. of this last 

 December, though the 'shortest day,' 1852. Such is the case 

 at times in all the winter months, especially in calm and mild 

 weather, whether clear or cloudy. The spring is his best 

 'season' as a vocalist, and his voice is heard from the middle 

 of February till the moulting-time in the autumn, though 

 much less often after the young are hatched. Mr. Macgillivray 

 heard one sing, though indistinctly, on the 18th. of October. 

 In general it ceases about the middle or end of July, or the 

 beginning of August. It may be taught to whistle a variety 

 of tunes, and to imitate the human voice. The ordinary note 

 is a chattering cry, which it almost invariably utters when 

 alarmed to take wing. 



The Blackbird's warble is one that attracts attention, and 

 you will see him perched on one of the top twigs of the tree, 

 from whence he carols his glad notes. He begins his song in 

 the middle of summer with the earliest dawn, and continues 

 it at intervals throughout the day, even until the twilight 

 and his own black plumage begin to fade together into night. 

 His first morning ditty is but harsh and unmusical, but when 

 the sun advances up towards the horizon, and the red rays 



