BLACKBIED. 207 



and reared fourteen young in one season; and he adds that 

 the garden and the shrubbery were so small in extent, that 

 had there been more than one pair, they would have at once 

 been detected; and that such were frequently looked for, but 

 in vain; as also that the dates of the different stages observed, 

 tend to shew that one pair may have constructed and managed 

 the whole nests with their contents: eggs being never found 

 in more than one nest at the same time, unless when one 

 had been forsaken. 



The following, if possible still more singular circumstance, 

 is related in the same magazine, page 352, by Mr. M. Saul, 

 of Grarstang, Lancashire: 'Last year a male Blackbird resided 

 in my orchard, and, as it appeared, failed in finding a mate. 

 As early as February he began building a nest under some 

 long leaves by the side of a fenny place in the orchard, 

 having first scratched away a little earth, in order to make 

 a level place for the nest to stand on. When the nest was 

 finished, it was completely concealed from the sight and 

 protected from rain, by the long leaves bending over it; so 

 close was one of the leaves, that the bird had to lift it up 

 every time he went in or out a feat I frequently watched 

 him perform. About two weeks after this nest was completely 

 finished, the same bird built a second in another part of the 

 orchard; and in this second nest I often saw him sitting later 

 in the season; and when the leaves were on the trees he 

 built a nest in a thorn bush. During the time he was 

 engaged with these three nests, he would frequently perch on 

 one of the highest trees in the orchard, and send forth his 

 rich and melodious song, as if to invite a partner to join in 

 his family cares, but always without success.' 



Mr. Weir, the valuable correspondent of Mr. Macgillivray, 

 relates a curious instance of a male Blackbird and a female 

 Thrush, which being fed together about the conclusion of 

 the winter of the year 1836, within a short distance of the 

 house of Mr. Russell, of Moss-side, in Scotland, kept company 

 with each other in the spring, and eventually hatched four 

 young ones. J. E,. Wise, Esq., of Lincoln College, Oxford, has 

 forwarded to me a specimen of an hybrid egg of a like origin. 

 Mr. Allis, in his 'Catalogue of the Birds of Yorkshire,' 

 mentions a similar instance in the case of a pair in con- 

 finement. 



The Blackbird is neat in form, and its plumage compact. 

 Male; weight, about four ounces; length, ten inches and three 



