The Notes of the Blackbird. 2 7 



which seems to astonish even .its fellow birds ; the same phe- 

 nomenon also occurs amongst sparrows ; a fatal distinction to 

 the poor birds, who are in consequence very soon shot. 



This bird is one of our finest singers. His notes are solemn 

 and flowing, unlike those of the thrush, which are short, quick, 

 and extremely varied. The one bird is more lyrical, the other 

 sings in a grand epic strain. A friend of ours, deeply versed 

 in bird-lore, maintains that the blackbird is oratorical, and sings 

 as if delivering an eloquent rhythmical oration. 



This bird begins to sing early in the year, and continues his 

 song during the whole time that the hen is sitting. Like his 

 relatives, the thrush and the missel thrush, he takes his post on 

 the highest branch of a tree, near his nest, so that his song is 

 heard far and wide ; and in fact, through the whole pleasant 

 spring you hear the voices of these three feathered kings of 

 English song constantly filling the woods and fields with their 

 melody. The blackbird sings deliciously in rain, even during a 

 thunderstorm, with the lightning flashing round him. Indeed, 

 both he and the thrush seem to take great delight in summer 

 showers. 



The blackbird has a peculiar call, to give notice to his brood 

 of the approach of danger ; probably, however, it belongs both 

 to male and female. Again, there is a third note, very peculiar 

 also, heard only in the dusk of evening, and which seems pleas- 

 ingly in harmony with the approaching shadows of night. By 

 this note they call each other to roost, in the same way as par- 

 tridges call each other to assemble at night, however far they 

 may be asunder. 



The nest of the blackbird is situated variously ; most frequently 



