6 



The Blackbird does not inhabit the extreme north of Europe, and generally migrates on the 

 approach of winter from those parts of Scandinavia which it visits. As a rule, however, it is by 

 no means a rare bird all over Europe, breeding in nearly every country ; but the southern and 

 south-eastern portions of the continent receive an influx of migrants from the north in the cold 

 weather. It is found in all the western countries and islands, while in this direction it sometimes 

 extends to the Faeroes and Iceland. 



In commencing with the most westerly limit of the Blackbird's range yet known, we give the 

 following remarks of Professor Newton as regards the occurrence of the species in Iceland, where 

 it has been supposed to have been twice observed. He writes : — " The first, in 1823, is mentioned 

 by Heir Preyer, on the authority of Gliemann ; the second, in March 18G0, by Mr. Metcalfe. 

 But even if there is no mistake, in either case it must be regarded as a very exceptional visitor." 

 "We learn also from Heir Sysselmand Miiller that it is sometimes seen on the Faeroes ; and we 

 have next to consider its range throughout the British Islands. Mr. Thompson records the 

 Blackbird as " common and resident throughout the wooded districts of Ireland." He adds : — 

 "They likewise resort to the islands off the coasts. In the summer of 1827 I remarked them 

 among the underwood sparingly scattered over the Lighthouse Island (one of the Copelands), off 

 the county of Down. Dr. J. D. Marshall mentions one or two being occasionally seen in the wild 

 island of Rathlin, about a garden, where they sometimes breed. The indigenous birds do not 

 congregate witli us; nor have I ever heard of flocks being seen in any part of this country on 

 their migration from the north of Europe, as they have been in England. They are indeed 

 stated to he more numerous about Tralee (co. Kerry) in winter than in summer; but their com- 

 parative scarcity at the latter season is attributed to the want of woods and thickets wherein to 

 build." Mr. A. G. More, in his well-known and able paper, gives the distribution of the Black- 

 bird during the nesting-season as extending all over Great Britain, and he states that it "nests 

 regularly even in the most northern parts of Scotland and in Orkney; but apparently does not 

 extend to Shetland, nor to "the northern and more remote Hebrides" (Afacgillivrai/). Further 

 information as to the distribution of the species in these last-named islands is afforded by 

 Mr. Robert Gray, who gives the following account of the distribution of the present species in 

 the west of Scotland : — " The Blackbird is common at times only in the outer gi'oup of the 

 Hebrides. On Lewis, although a well-known resident, it is not so numerous as the Thrush ; but 

 the great improvements near Stornoway will no doubt attract the species more in future, and it 

 may therefore be expected to increase. On Harris it is likewise resident, and also on North Uist, 

 but in very limited numbers ; while on Benbecula it is wholly absent in summer, being only a 

 winter visitant. On Iona and Mull it is a winter bird only ; but in some of the other inner 

 islands it is resident. I have found several pairs of Blackbirds on Ailsa Craig ; one of these had 

 their nest in a turret-hole of the old castle ruins, nearly halfway towards the summit of the 

 island. I remember, one very hot day in July, hearing a Blackbird sing in a cave there ; it had 

 penetrated to the inmost recesses of this dark abode, which must have been a familiar haunt, as 

 on going in to ascertain its extent, I found the bird was able to steer directly out of it, without 

 flitting by side jerks, until it regained the entrance. In some districts of Scotland Blackbirds 

 have of late years multiplied to a great extent ; the island of Arran, for example, since the 

 destruction of birds of prey there, has been completely overrun with them. After the breeding- 



