42 TREATISE ON 



As a song-bird, it is not equal to the thrush, but 

 yet its notes are rich and mellow : it is esteemed 

 an excellent cage-bird, but not for the aviary, as 

 it pursues and harasses the other birds. In a wild 

 state, it feeds on snails, earth-worms, spiders, and 

 other insects, wild berries, &c. ; it is also very fond 

 of cherries and pears, choosing always the best 

 and ripest; it remains with us throughout the 

 year, but in winter approaches houses and towns. 

 We have seen it, during severe storms, come to the 

 little gardens, (or back-greens, as they are called 

 in Edinbm-gh,) quite close to the houses; nay, 

 come to the very windows, and pick up crums of 

 bread, &c. They are caught by limed twigs and 

 snares of different kinds, but the birds taken from 

 the nest are the best. To avoid repetition, we 

 may here mention, that the young and old birds 

 are reared and managed in the same manner as 

 thrushes. — See Thrush. The nest is constructed 

 nearly in the same places, nearly of the same ma- 

 terials, and, like the thrush, the female blackbird 

 deposits four or five eggs, of a very pale verditer 

 blue colour, faintly inclining to verdigris green, 

 marked, particularly at the large end, with pale 

 chesnut-brown spots. " The young birds are easily 

 brought up tame, and may be taught to whistle a 



