(35) 



The Black Bird, Meruli. ffdUca/Ju 



Numb. XXXVII. IQo. 



ITS Length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is eleven 

 Inches, Breadth fifteen Inches, Weight three Ounces and ten Drams. 



The Bill is an Inch long, in the Cock of a deep yellow ; in the Hen 

 the tip and upper part is black : the Mouth in both Sexes is yellow within : 

 the Bill of the Cock is black when young, and changes yellow at a Year 

 old; he alfo changes to a black when he hath mewed his chicken Fea- 

 thers. The Hen is rather brown, or of a dark ruffet, than black. The 

 Cocks cannot be diftinguifhed from the Hens when young, but by the 

 Ir'tdes of the Eye, which is yellow in the young Cocks. The Number 

 of quill Feathers in ccn.li Wing are eighteen, of which the fourth is the 

 longeft. The Tail is four Inches long, made up of twelve Feathers, the 

 two outermoft of which are fomewhat fhorter than the reft. 



The Feet are black; the outermoft fore-Toe and the back-Toe are 

 equal, and the outermoft toe joined to the middlemoft at bottom as in the 

 reft of this kind. The Liver is divided into two Lobes, and hath its Gall- 

 Bladder annexed. The Gizzard is not very flefhy nor thick, as in the 

 reft. It feeds promifcuoufly upon Berries and Infeds. The Cock whiftles 

 and fings very pleafantly all the Spring and Summer-time. 



They build their Neft very artificially, the outfide of Mofs, {lender 

 Twigs, Bents and fibrous Roots cemented and joined together with Clay, 

 dawbing the infide alfo all over with Clay, and lining it with a Co- 

 vering of fmall Straws, Bents Hair, and other foft Matter, upon which 

 fhe lays four or five Eggs, feldom more, of a bluiidi green Colour, full of 

 dusky Spots and Lines. They love to wafli and prune their Feathers, and 

 for the moft part fly fingly ; whence it took the Name Merula^ which 

 Signifies to be folitary or fingle. 



It is faid they find fome of thefe Birds white on the Alps and other 

 high Mountains, which Alteration of Colour is thought to proceed from 

 their remaining continually in thofe cold Places. I had a Bird of this Kind 

 finely mottled fent me by Sir Robert Abdy out of EJfex. 



The 



