10 



11 



I find, though smaller, in the Formosan Oreocincla and in Turdus daulias, also in a still less 

 degree in the Garrulaces, and probably in most other species of this group. It is, of course, an 

 abortive wing-spur, which in Turdus daetylopterus, Bp., of Syria, appears to have acquired a full 

 development." 



The range of the Blackbird into North-eastern Africa is thus given by Captain Shelley, who 

 writes : — " The Blackbird comes to Egypt in the winter, but is not common in the country. I 

 have met with it on two occasions, once in the Delta and once near Benisooef at the end of 

 March, when I saw a pair together." 



Lastly, the European Blackbird is supposed to inhabit Cashmere and Afghanistan. Thus 

 Dr. Leith Adams says: — "It is a common cage-bird in the towns of the Punjab, said to be 

 imported from Afghanistan — not a native of the Western Himalayas, as far westward as 

 Peshawur, but probably found on the Hindoo-Coosh chain." Lord Walden's collection contains 

 a specimen of this bird procured in Cashmere by Dr. Jerdon, and we cannot believe that it is the 

 same as the European species ; unfortunately it is not quite adult, and, although blackish all over 

 the rest of the body, it has the belly crossed with tawny and black bars. If indeed it is a young 

 bird gaining the mature black plumage, it is evident that it cannot be the European species, 

 which performs that change by a direct moult. The length of the wing, too, seems to show that 

 it is a different bird; for it measures 5 - 8 inches. Ten specimens, chosen at random from among 

 the series of European specimens now before us, have the wing measuring from 4*65-5 - 2 inches. 



At the present day, even as it was in his own time, Macgillivray's account of the habits of 

 the Blackbird seems to be the best ; and we transcribe the greater part of it from his work on 

 British birds : — 



" In winter it frequents the neighbourhood of houses and towns, resorting to woods, hedges, 

 and gardens, and generally keeping in the shelter of trees or bushes. At this season its food 

 consists principally of snails, especially Helix aspersa and H. nemoralis, the shells of which it 

 breaks by raising them in its bill, and dashing them against a stone or other hard surface. It 

 also occasionally breaks them open by pecking against the spire, in which the shell is much 

 thinner. Like many other birds, however, it has a great range of food. Thus, having opened 

 five individuals, I found in the stomach of one a great quantity of seeds and husks of graminege, 

 including wheat and oats ; in that of another, coleopterous insects ; in that of a third, coleoptera, 

 and seeds of various kinds ; in that of the fourth, mollusca, and fragments of shells ; in that of 

 the fifth, seeds, mollusca, and a few grains of gravel. Earthworms, larva?, berries, and seeds of 

 various kinds I have also observed in the stomachs of numerous individuals which I have 

 opened. 



" It is amusing to observe a Blackbird searching for food on the smooth green of a garden, 

 which one may easily do from the window without being noticed. In December 1832 I watched 

 one in order to note its motions. After looking quietly at a particular spot for some time, it 

 hopped up, began to peck the ground with great energy, and after some exertion, succeeded in 

 dragging out a worm of moderate size, which it immediately threw on the ground. It then 

 pecked at the worm for nearly a minute, and, beginning at one end, separated by a sudden stroke a 

 small portion, which it swallowed. In this manner it proceeded until it had devoured the whole, 

 not swallowing at any time more than a small fragment. It then hopped about, looking now 



4e2 



