PLATES TO BLACKBIRD. 



1. A nest and eggs. 



2. The young just emerged from the egg and an egg (June i). 



3. The day after hatching (June 2). 



4. Four days later (June 4). 



5. Sixth day out (June 5). 



6. Ninth day out. 



7. Eleventh day out. 



8. Fourteenth day out. 



We would draw attention to the extraordinary size of the bird just out 

 as compared with the egg. On the sixth day the feather shafts with the 

 tips of the encased feathers sticking out of them are quite formed, although 

 two days earlier they were hardly more than indicated. On the ninth day 

 feathers nearly cover the whole of the skin — on the eleventh day they do this 

 completely. In No. 8 the bird was drawn after it had flown from the nest. 



