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they seemed to be anxiously concerned about the safety of their family. From tree to tree they 

 usually hopped, uttering their doleful lamentations. At one time the Blackbirds were in an 

 unusual state of excitement and terror, and were attended by crowds of their woodland friends. 

 A man and a boy, who were working in my garden, having heard the noise, ran to see what was 

 the cause of it. Upon looking into some branches lying on the ground, they observed a large 

 weasel stealing slyly along in pursuit of its prey. When they approached it, instead of running 

 off as they expected it to do, it climbed to the top of a larch tree, where it remained until my 

 Pointer was brought, when they shook it down, and it made its escape. It is astonishing 

 how very soon the young know this intimation of fear ; for I observed that no sooner did the 

 old ones announce it, than they cowered in their nest, and appeared to be in a state of great 

 uneasiness. 



" ' During the whole day, except in two or three instances, the Blackbirds swallowed all the 

 droppings of their brood? 



" The flesh of the Blackbird is excellent, as, indeed, is that of all our other species, although, 

 I believe, very seldom used as an article of food. The good people who unhesitatingly feed on 

 innocent Lambs, gentle Doves, and confiding Pullets, look with a kind of abhorrence on the 

 cruel slaughterer of Blackbirds. This, however, it is obvious, is mere selfishness. The bird 

 amuses them with its song, and they are displeased with its destroyer. Yet, when it has the 

 audacity to appropriate a few cherries, gooseberries, pears, or other fruit, it is very much in the 

 way of receiving some grains of No. 5, from those who would hesitate to shoot it, unless in anger. 

 Its fondness of fruit is scarcely counterbalanced by its helping to clear the gardens of snails and 

 worms ; but it amply repays all damage by its song, which, in some respects, is unrivalled. The 

 period at which it is in prime condition as an article of food, is from the beginning of October 

 to the end of February, unless a snow-storm or hard frost should occur; and even then, it 

 retains its condition much longer than the other Thrushes, excepting the common species, for 

 it still finds a supply of snails under the hedges. The Blackbird is frequently kept in cages, 

 where it sings with nearly as much effect, even in the midst of a crowded city, as in its wild 

 haunts, although the natural associations of cultivated scenery and gentle emotions are then 

 entirely lost. Very often, however, it is taught to whistle a tune of some kind, and is thus 

 rendered an object of admiration to those who have little relish for nature, unless they can 

 distort her so as to suit their depraved tastes. The young are easily reared when taken from 

 the nest." 



Mr. Robson very kindly sends us a note on its habits in Turkey : — " Great numbers of 

 Blackbirds are shot in the winter by sportsmen for food. They arrive in the middle of October, 

 and take up their abode for the winter in damp valleys, where thickets abound. They feed much 

 on the berries of night-shade, mountain-ash, and ivy, also on worms, caterpillars, larva? of insects, 

 &c. In spring they retire to the woods, and also affect places where damp thickets are scattered 

 over the sides of mountains or in the valleys, but are never seen in summer in open places or on 

 bare mountain-sides. They are restless, timid birds, and are never found far from thickets, into 

 which they dive at the first symptom of alarm. They are partial to breeding in the forests of 

 dwarf oak trees, where in summer there is an abundance of caterpillars wherewith to feed their 

 young. The nests and eggs are most abundant in the early part of June, those laid earlier being 



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