532 CLASS AVES. 



The blackbirds are very fond of bathing themselves ; they 

 must, therefore, have plenty of water, which contributes not a 

 little to their gaiety. 



Their moulting commences at the end of summer, and is so 

 complete, that some are frequently seen at that period with the 

 head entirely divested of feathers. At this epoch they cease 

 to sing, and, generally, near its termination they proceed to 

 migrate. Some few, however, are observed to remain the 

 winter : they then inhabit hedges and the thickest woods, 

 seeking those where there are warm springs and evergreen trees, 

 as much for a shelter from the cold, as for the purpose of pro- 

 curing sustenance. They come at this season into gardens, and 

 feed on snails ; they even seek them in the holes of walls, and 

 know very well how to break the shell and extract the animal. 

 Their flesh is considered very delicate during the vintage time 

 in wine countries, and is as much in request as that of thrushes ; 

 but it grows bitter when they feed only on juniper-berries, 

 ivy-berries, and other such fruits. It is said to have some 

 medicinal properties, and to be good in fluxes and dysenteries. 

 Nevertheless, ulcerated and hemorrhoidal patients should ab- 

 stain from it ; the oil in which blackbirds are cooked is much 

 recommended by foreign physicians, in cases of sciatica ; and 

 the dung of these birds, dissolved in vinegar, is said to clear 

 the skin, and disperse redness and blotches, if constantly used. 



Though these birds are very distrustful and subtle, they 

 give easily into the snares that are laid for them, provided the 

 fowler be invisible ; they are taken in different ways. The 

 methods described for taking the thrushes will succeed equally 

 well with the blackbirds. 



A method of taking them, well known to shepherds and the 

 inhabitants of the country, consists in making a little hole in 

 the ground, about five inches broad, eight long, and nine deep. 

 In the bottom are placed various berries, or earth-worms, 

 attached to a little stick with a thread, or transfixed through 

 the body with long thorns. If other birds are wanted to be 



