

TURDUS MERULA. 



Syst. Nat. 295. 



THE BLACKBIRD, OR OUZLE. 



PLATE VII. 



X he bill is an inch long, in the cock of a fine bright 

 gold colour, in the hen dusky towards the point, yellow 

 towards the base. The inside of the mouth is yellow, 

 the eyes are brown and very bright, the circle round 

 them yellow\ 



The whole plumage of the cock, in old birds, is an 

 intense steady black without glossiness. The hen is 

 of a dusky black, inclining to brown ; the throat and 

 upper part of the breast excepted, which are of a dull 

 dirty white, spotted with black. 



The wing is composed of eighteen feathers, of which 

 the second order of quills are remarkably large and 

 broad. The tail consists of twelve feathers, and when 

 displayed is fan-shaped, the outer feathers being shorter 

 than the middle ones. The legs and feet are black, or 

 of a very dark horn colour. 



The Ouzle is a solitary bird, accompanying with 

 his mate only in breeding time. He inhabits solitary 

 and rocky woods near rivulets ; and when surprised in 

 his lonely haunts, flies from the presence of the intruder 

 with an hideous loud scream. Their food is insects and 

 berries, and they seem to delight most in the * hazuthorh. 

 The attitudes of the cock are bold and majestic, par- 

 ticularly when he feeds. Stooping, displaying his tail, 

 turning his head this way and that, and casting his eyes 

 on every side as to avoid a foe. 



* Cratsegus oxycantha. 



