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13 



" Even in severe weather in winter, Blackbirds are not gregarious ; and on no occasion have 

 I seen more than three or four together, and that only for a few minutes. Although a male and 

 a female may sometimes associate during that season, it is much more common to find them 

 solitary. Nor does this species cherish the society of any other, though it may be seen in the 

 vicinity of a Song-Thrush, a Hedge Chanter, or other small bird. While the Fieldfares and 

 Redwings cover a field in search of food, the Blackbirds very seldom venture amongst them, but 

 prefer the shelter of the fences. 



" The female is less clamorous than the male, who, on being alarmed or irritated, especially 

 in the breeding-season, emits a loud clear chuckling cry, in some degree approaching to the 

 chatter of the Magpie, fluttering or flapping its wings, and bending its body forwards at the same 

 time. This remarkable cry, variously modulated by different individuals, sometimes exhibits a 

 slight resemblance to the cackle of a domestic hen after laying ; but whether it be the same as 

 that alluded to by a correspondent in the ' Naturalist ' as similar to the crowing of a cock, and 

 by the editor of that journal as resembling the notes of several varieties of that species, I am 

 unable to determine, not having listened to the individuals mentioned by them. This much, 

 however, I have observed, not as a singular circumstance, nor even as one common to a few 

 individuals, but as exhibited at all seasons, at the period of breeding and in the middle of winter, 

 and by very many birds of the species — that the male, on perching, whether on a tree or on the 

 ground, but especially on the former, raises its tail, flutters, it might almost be said, flaps his 

 wings, emits his chuckling cry, and continues balancing himself, or hops along, repeating the 

 notes, which, should he be alarmed, or in any way excited, are sometimes raised and prolonged 

 so that a person fond of tracing affinities and analogies, might naturally enough liken it to the 

 crowing of a Cock. 



" Few persons seek an opportunity of hearing the song of the Blackbird in the early morning 

 before the first rays of the sun shoot across the eastern sky ; but many listen to it with delight 

 in the quiet evenings of spring and summer, when the other songsters, except the Thrush or the 

 Nightingale, are mute, and when its mellow notes come swelling on the ear, shedding a benign 

 influence on every heart not entirely hardened by a habitual disregard of nature. On the 1st of 

 May, 1837, a Blackbird in the garden commenced his song at three in the morning; a fortnight 

 after I heard one as early as half-past two ; and in the middle of summer I have listened to it 

 before going to bed, when the twilight peeped in between the shutters upon the untired student 

 thus admonished of the propriety of intermitting his labours. The first morning song of the 

 Blackbird is very singular, and altogether different from that of the evening, consisting of 

 repetitions of the same unmusical strain, performed with a harsh screaming voice. It continues 

 for a quarter of an hour or more, and is not again heard until towards sunrise, when it is renewed 

 in a bolder, louder, and more joyous strain. In cold and cloudy weather, however, this twilight 

 strain is seldom heard ; for then the bird waits until it is full day before it commences its song. 

 Although the Blackbird sings at all times of the day, it is more especially in the mornings and 

 evenings that it pours forth its delightful melodies, which, simple as they are, I am unable to 

 describe in a more effective manner than by characterizing them as loud, rich, mellow, and much 

 surpassing in effect those of any other native bird, excepting the Nightingale, Song-Thrush, 

 Blackcap, and Garden- Warbler. I have heard individuals singing most fervently in the midst 



