THE BLACKBIRD. 347 



Food. The food of the Blackbird is the same as that of 

 other Thrushes ; though, in winter, it is often obliged to be 

 content with the berries of the white-thorn. At the same 

 season of the year it may frequently be seen near warm springs, 

 in search of insects and earth worms. 



In the aviary it is satisfied with the first universal paste, 

 but will also eat bread, meat, and whatever is brought to table. 

 Like others of its kind, it is very fond of bathing. It is, 

 however, a tender bird, and would not live long on so simple 

 a diet as bran and water. 



Breeding. As the Blackbird is not a bird of passage, it 



r'rs very early in the year, so that the young birds may often 

 found in the nest as early as the end of March. The nest 

 is placed in some thick bush, often not very high from the 

 ground, and is constructed of earth and moss interlaced with 

 twigs, and lined with fine grass-stalks and hair. The female lays 

 twice or thrice a year five or six eggs, of a greyish green colour, 

 covered with light brown and liver-coloured spots and stripes. 

 The young males are always rather darker than the females, 

 and can by this means be distinguished from them even in the 

 nest. They may be taken as soon as ever the tail feathers show 

 themselves, and reared on bread and milk. By this mode of 

 treatment they become sooner accustomed to the food of the 

 aviary, and, if taught an artificial song, learn it more per- 

 fectly, and do not confound and mix it with their own. 



Diseases. The disease to which the Blackbird is most liable 

 is an obstruction of the rump-gland, which may be treated in 

 the manner mentioned in the Introduction. It lives in con- 

 finement from twelve to sixteen years, especially if its food 

 be judiciously varied. 



Mode of Taking. The Blackbird is very shy, and is seldom 

 caught in the barn-floor trap, though in winter it may easily 

 be taken in nooses and springes, baited with service berries. At 

 the same season it falls into the large Tit traps, baited in the 

 same manner, or may be caught in a place cleared from snow 

 and set with limed twigs. After dark it may frequently be 

 taken in the water-trap ; and before bathing utters a call simi- 

 lar to that of the Song Thrush. The call is Tzitzirr ! Tack, 

 Tack! 



Attractive Qualities. The song of the male is melodious, 

 and consists of deep sonorous passages, like those of a Night- 



