EUROPEAN BLACKBIRD 223 



sembled those of a wood thrush. I could 

 not see that the bird opened its bill at all 

 to produce its song, and I suppose it was 

 meant for no ears to hear, either bird's or 

 man's. This was the only occasion on which 

 sounds were heard which were traceable 

 to the Blackbird, unless on one other morn- 

 ing a " chuck " which was heard proceeded 

 from it while I was near, and not from a 

 possible hermit thrush which was not seen. 

 Usually when seen it was not seeking 

 food actively. But several times I have 

 seen the bird pull an angle-worm from the 

 grass and eat it, running like a robin a few 

 feet upon the turf, and after a pause, in 

 which he was plainly giving attention to his 

 object, seizing the worm and preparing it for 

 comfortable use by dividing it. If a house 

 sparrow intruded at such a time, the Black- 

 bird had only to strike out for it and the 

 sparrow retired. On December 5 it was 

 enjoying such a feast under a large purple 

 beech which stands just within the Garden 

 at the head of Marlborough Street. The 

 ground was without frost. On December 9, 



