THE BLACKBIRD. 349 



Although the Blackbird sings at all times of the day, it is more 

 especially in the mornings and evenings that it pours forth its 

 delightful melodies, which, simple as they are, I am unable to 

 describe in a more effective manner than by characterizing them 

 as loud, rich, mellow, and much surpassing in effect those of any 

 other native bird, excepting the Nightingale, Song Thrush, 

 Blackcap, and Garden Warbler. I have heard individuals sing- 

 ing most fervently in the midst of a heavy thunder storm, when 

 the rain was falling thickly, and the lightning flashing at an 

 alarming rate ; and both this species and the Song Thrush seem 

 to regard the summer rains with pleasure. The season at which 

 the Blackbird is in full song, commences about the middle of 

 February, and ends about the beginning of August ; but in calm, 

 and especially warm weather, whether clear or cloudy, it may 

 sometimes be heard in the winter and early spring months." 



This is a prolific bird ; ME. BLYTH mentions a pair that built 

 four successive nests in 1837, on an island in St. James's Park, 

 and reared seventeen young ones, the first three broods consisting 

 of five each. MR. WEIE records a case of a Blackbird and 

 Thrush breeding together in a wild state ; and another instance 

 of this is mentioned by ME. RUSSELL, of Moss-side, but neither 

 of these gentlemen had an opportunity of securing the fruits of 

 this connection. 



A writer in Chambers' Edinburgh Journal illustrates, by the 

 following anecdote, the* usefulness of this bird as a destroyer of 

 insect pests : " A grass plot attached to a country house, was 

 once visited by a dozen or two of Blackbirds for several days in 

 succession ; they ploughed it up so diligently with their bills, as 

 to make the surface look rough and decayed. The owner of the 

 property, unwilling to shoot the intruders, caused the grass plot- 

 to be dug up in several places, when it was found to be overrun 

 with the larvae of chafers. The birds were left in undisturbed 

 possession ; and although the walls were covered with ripe fruit, 

 they left it for the grubs which they effectually destroyed, and 

 the grass plot soon resumed its original appearance." 



Instances of this species of bird with plumage wholly or par- 

 tially white, have not unfrequently been met with. WIL- 

 LOUGHBY'S theory that such birds were natives of mountainous 

 districts, is hardly tenable, as an albino is sometimes found in a 

 nest with others of the common sable hue. 



According to VAEEO, the term Merle is derived from the habit 

 of this bird of flying mera, or solitary ; hence, too, its generic 

 name, merula. 



"Merry it is in the good green wood, 

 When the Mavis and Merle are singing," 



