98 



8 



Seidensacher, it is found breeding in larger or smaller numbers, according to the nature of the 

 country. 



Mr. II. M. Laboucbere writes to us as follows : — :" In Holland this bird is very common, and 

 may be found throughout the whole country, as well in the woods and parks as in the gardens 

 behind the town houses. In a garden in the town of Amsterdam I found, in some ivy covering a 

 wall, two nests of the Blackbird, at a distance of about ten yards from each other." Baron de 

 Sclys-Longchamps says that in Belgium it remains throughout the year in the large woods, and 

 in the other parts of the country is common during migration in March and October, some 

 remaining the winter through. In Luxembourg, according to De la Fontaine, it is partly migra- 

 tory, partly resident, as in the north they all appear to migrate. Godron states that it is common 

 in Lorraine, from the spring to the autumn, in the woods and orchards, some few passing the 

 winter there. In Alsace it is said by Kroener to be sedentary, both in the mountains and in the 

 plains. Throughout the whole of France it is a common resident bird ; and, according to Bailly, 

 it is found in Savoy throughout the year, but is rather less numerous during the winter than in 

 the summer. Concerning the Blackbird in Southern Spain, Mr. Howard Saunders observes that 

 it is "very abundant, and resident throughout the year. The eggs are much brighter in colour 

 than the majority of British specimens." We may mention that the female bird in Mr. Saunders's 

 collection seems to be somewhat different from examples of the same sex from other localities. 

 Major Irby also tells us that it is " very abundant in Andalucia, particularly in the winter, when 

 many arrive from the north. Great numbers, however, are resident; and the species breeds on 

 the rock of Gibraltar. It is equally common in Marocco, where I once saw a nest built in a 

 prickly-pear hedge, a strange site for the nest of our English Blackbird." In Portugal also the 

 ] hi sent species is abundant, as stated by the Rev. A. C. Smith. It likewise occurs in the Canaries; 

 and Mr. Gould, in the course of his outward voyage to Australia, observed the Blackbird on 

 Teneriffe. Mr. E. Vernon Harcourt states that it breeds in Madeira. In the Azores Mr. F. 

 Godman procured several specimens ; and he says that it " frequents the mountain-districts rather 

 than the gardens and low country." He has most kindly lent us the birds obtained by him 

 during his visit to these islands ; they appeared at first to be smaller than the usual run of 

 European specimens; but on a comparison of the actual measurements we can discover no real 

 differences. 



Besides the above note of Major Irby's respecting the Blackbird in Marocco, we also learn 

 from Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake that it is very plentiful both in Tangier and Eastern Marocco. 

 In Algeria Mr. J. II. Gurney found it "common, but very shy;" and Taczanowski observed large 

 numbers in that country, wintering in the oases, but met with it more rarely in the hills. 

 According to Loche it is common there throughout the year, and especially affects rivulets the 

 banks of which are overgrown with bushes, while it often approaches inhabited places. Mr. O. 

 Salvin writes : — " The Blackbird is common in the wooded parts of Tunis. It appears to be a 

 resident in the Eastern Atlas, as we obtained several nests near Souk Harras." In Malta 

 Mr. Wright states that it "arrives annually in October and November. A few remain the 

 winter, individuals having been taken in December, January, February, and even in March. It 

 leaves in spring." Professor Doderlein remarks that in Sicily it is also very common, especially 

 in winter, some remaining to breed ; but the majority return northwards in spring. He adds 



