Birds. 3665 



Some further Account of the Blackbird said to have become White 

 through Fright. By the Rev. Alfred Charles Smith, M.A. 



I regret having been prevented last month from replying to Mr. 

 Johnson's query respecting the blackbird mentioned by me (Zool. 3577) 

 as having become partially white through excessive fear. I there un- 

 hesitatingly asserted that sudden fright was the cause of this change 

 of plumage, as I had no question that such was the case : now, how- 

 ever, I am bound to add, that though I still entertain the same opin- 

 ion, and am inclined to believe that the blackbird was frightened into 

 paleness, finding a contrary opinion entertained by Mr. Johnson and 

 another ornithologist, for whose knowledge in such matters I have 

 great respect, I am quite willing to modify my assurance, and only 

 to entertain my present opinion, so long as it is not proved to be 

 erroneous. 



I must first remark that this change of plumage in the blackbird 

 took place many years ago, and that the bird is doubtless long since 

 dead. Tn reply, however, to my inquiries, made in order that I might 

 answer Mr. Johnson's queries, I received the following note from my 

 relative, which I transcribe verbatim : — 



" The thing occurred so many years since, that I cannot recollect 

 all the particulars about it, but I will tell you all I remember. In the 

 first place, for a long time after the said Shrove Tuesday (the day for 

 ' crocking,' as they call it) the bird, from a very quiet one, became re- 

 markably restless and timid, and the next time he moulted he became 

 partially white and considerably so ; but afterwards, I am not certain 

 whether it was the next time of moulting or subsequently, he resumed 

 his wonted black coat, and was alive and quite black when I left the 

 neighbourhood." 



So far, Mr. Johnson is quite right in his surmise that the blackbird 

 would recover his sable plumage ; but I now proceed to give my rea- 

 sons for thinking he is mistaken, in imagining fright to have had no- 

 thing to do with this change : and here, too, I hope to answer not only 

 Mr. Johnson's objections, but those of others who may now agree 

 with him. 



That fright sometimes is the cause of a change in the colour of the 

 plumage of birds, the late Bishop of Norwich affirms, in his interest- 

 ing little work on birds. "Fright again," says the Bishop "(as in the 

 case of human beings, whose hair has been known to change under 



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