THE BLACKBIRD. 49 



frequently running from a high note, down 

 to a soft deep-toned warble. During the 

 period of incubation, the male, perching on 

 the top of some neighbouring tree, pours 

 forth its delightful melody, and, as the 

 poet expresses it, *' mellows its pipe, and 

 softens every note." 



In confinement, it sings and whistles de- 

 lightfully during the Spring and Summer, 

 for four or five months in succession, and 

 may easily be taught to whistle a tune ; the 

 young birds should be taken from the nest 

 when about ten or twelve days old, and 

 regularly fed every two hours, from four or 

 five in the morning till about six at night, 

 with sheep's heart, or any other lean meat, 

 mixed with bread, and moistened with 

 water : when full grown, any kind of fresh 

 meat, either cooked or raw, will do to feed 

 them on. Particular care must be taken to 

 keep the nest clean, for if it is suffered to 

 become foul, the young brood are apt to 

 sicken, and sometimes die : for this reason, 

 as soon as they are able to leave the nest, 

 they ought to be put into a cage, with some 

 clean straw, till they are able to feed them- 



D 



