17 



from its natural colour to white, cream colour, or brown. 

 Perhaps this is more frequent in the Blackbird than in any 

 other. I have several authenticated instances of the occur- 

 rence of these variations in this neicrhbourhood. In 

 February, 1866, one was shown me in the flesh, which 

 had some of the feathers at the back of the head, several 

 of those in the right wing and in the tail pure white. 

 Another found dead about the same time had the riorht 



o 



cheek white, and in April of the same year one was sent me 

 from Rockley, having a good many white feathers on the 

 back and in the tail. 



All the instances which I have as yet mentioned have 

 been male birds, and I should say of a good age. From 

 which I believe this variation to be more common in the 

 male than in the female sex, though I am unable to suggest 

 a cause. I have, however, a female specimen from Overton, 

 which has a good many white feathers dispersed over the 

 whole of its body. 



Of course I cannot venture to give any theory of my own 

 concerning the reason of this curious variation, but am 

 content to beHeve in part the generally accepted theory that 

 it is caused by physical weakness in one or both of the 

 parent birds, as when one of the old birds has any white 

 about it, the variation is generally, I believe, perpetuated 

 in their offsjoring. But I am inclined also to believe that it 

 is occasionally the effect of a bruise or of some other wound. 

 This is well known to be the case with the hair of animals, 

 and it might well be the same with the plumage of birds. 



The egg of this species is also liable to variation from its 

 normal marking and shape. I have in my collection two, 

 one from a nest containing three similar eggs, found near 



