BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 43 



variety of tunes, for which their clear, loud, and 

 spirited tones are well adapted.'* We have heard 

 a blackbird whistle " Over the water to Charlie," 

 a Jacobite air; '' Dainty Davie," a Scotch air; 

 and an Irish air, mthout missing a single semi- 

 tone; but we think their own natural notes are 

 preferable to any taught air. 



Description and Plumage, 



This bird is about ten inches in length, — bill 

 straight, — upper mandible a little curved at the 

 point, — colour bright saffi'on yellow, — whole plu- 

 mage rich velvet black, in some lights inclining to 

 bluish black, — inside of the mouth, edges of the 

 eyelids, and soles of the feet, pale saffron yellow, 

 — legs and feet dingy gallstone yellow. Tlie fe- 

 male is blackish brown, paler on the breast, — bill 

 wood-brown, inclining to blackish brown, — ^legs 

 and feet the same. The young males, for the first 

 year, resemble the females, but after that their 

 bills turn yellow. 



It is difiicult to know a young male blackbird 

 or thrush from the female. The male, however, 

 is longer, and more slender. Choose the bird with 

 a large full sprightly eye, and slender towards the 



