BLACKBIRD. PASSERES. TURDUS. 159 
p- 141.—Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, v. 1. p. 94.—Puilt. Cat. 
Dorset, p. 10.—Low’s Fau. Orcad. p. 58.—Shaw’s Zool. v. 10. p. 225. 
This bird is well known as a native of the British Islands. 
It is of a shy and restless disposition, always anxious to escape 
from observation, and generally successful in that effort, as it 
hops with singular celerity through the closest hedges or thick- 
ets, and its presence is often only known by the note it utters 
on alarm. It never associates ostensibly, preferring a soli- 
tary life, which it passes in woods or in well inclosed situations, 
where the hedges afford it an abundant supply of provision 
for the winter.—It also feeds upon worms and insects, and, Food. 
like the thrush, is particularly fond of the Helix nemoralis, 
to obtain the snail cf which it pursues the same process as 
that bird. 
The notes of the blackbird are rich and full, but destitute Song. 
of that varied power of melody which distinguishes the song 
of the common thrush.—It commences building its nest in Nest, Xe. 
March, or the beginning of April; and a thick bush, or an 
ivy-clad tree, is usually the chosen situation. The nest is 
composed of moss, small sticks, and fibres of root, plastered 
with mud internally, and afterwards lined with fine dry grass. 
Here it deposites four or five eggs, of a bluish-green colour, 
blotched with darker variegatiens. Like the thrush, it is fre- 
quently kept in confinement, and may be taught to whistle a 
variety of tunes, as well as to imitate the human voice. 
Piate 45. Fig. 4. Male bird, of the natural size. 
Bill and orbits of the eyes king’s yellow. The whole of the General 
plumage black. Legs blackish-brown, varied with wood- deve 
tion. 
brown. Male bird. 
Puate 43. Fig. 2. Natural size. 
The female bird is of a brownish-black. Throat white, spot- Female. 
ted with blackish-brown. Lower part of the neck and 
breast pale umber-brown, the margins of the feathers 
passing into greyish-white. Bill and legs blackish-brown. 
Belly and inner tail-coverts greyish-black. 
