48 THE BLACKBIRD. 



which have the blackest plumage, the largest 

 and most sprightly eye, and are the most 

 taper towards the tail, generally prove 

 to be cocks. 



The blackbird is one of the most early 

 breeders, sometimes hatching its brood as 

 early as the first or second week in March : 

 its nest is usually found in a holly bush, or 

 some other evergreen, near the ground, and 

 is composed of fibres and moss, the in- 

 side being plastered with clay, and lined 

 with moss and other soft substances: all 

 these are worked in so compact a manner, 

 as sometimes to render the nest water tight, 

 through which circumstance it happens, 

 that the young ones are occasionally de- 

 stroyed during a wet season; the eggs, 

 which are from four to five in number, are 

 of a pale bluish-green colour, marked with 

 dusky spots. 



Next to the mistle thrush, this is the 

 largest of our native song-birds, like which, 

 he is one of the earliest to welcome with his 

 delightful notes the rising year, and in me- 

 lody and sweetness is surpassed by few ; ia 

 the compass of his song he is very great, 



