200 



British Cage Birds. 



I 



are strongly tinged with ashen grey. The hens are larger j 

 than the cocks, and measure as much as lOin. and lO^^in. ! 

 in length ; the beak of the hen is never so vivid in colour 

 as that of the male bird, neither are the bands of yellow 

 that encircle the eyes. Young males are brighter and deeper 

 in colour than young females, and have black beaks, the 

 bills of the hens being brown, tipped with black. The males 

 may be distinguished by the circle of yellow that surrounds 

 the eye. In the male it is a distinct yellow, whilst in the 

 hen it is much paler, and not a definite yellow. The mouths 

 of both are rich yellow inside. 



Song. — The song of the Blackbird is agreeable and harmo- 

 nious ; in fact, this bird is considered by many good judges 

 to be one of the very finest of our British song birds, as 

 few can compare with it for power and compass. The song 

 is much varied in tone and expression ; sometimes it is loud, 

 clear, and sonorous, at other times sweetly modulated and 

 flute-like ; occasionally a few harsh, grating notes are heard, 

 and then it falls off to a soft, pleasant muttering, and 

 again increases to rich round notes. The song is a peculiar 

 mixture, and varies at different times of the day ; it is 

 generally finest about noon, or in the twilight. In a wild 

 state, the Blackbird sings from February or March to the 

 middle or end of July, and often later. When kept in 

 a cage, and in good health and condition, the cock bird 

 sings all the year round, except during the time he is moult- 

 ing. Some birds are very much better singers than others, 

 and those from two to four years old are preferable as 

 songsters to younger birds. They have good memories, and 

 remember what they have learnt, and pick up fresh notes 

 from other birds of their own species in a wild state. 



In confinement, a young hand-reared bird may be greatly 

 improved by being placed constantly beside a Woodlark or 

 a Nightingale, when the latter is in song. Young Blackbirds 

 may be taught, with much patience and perseverance, to 

 whistle tunes, but they are not equal to Starlings, which are 

 very quick in picking up the airs of songs. 



Points to be Observed in Judging. — Blackbirds, as well 

 as Thrushes, are much fancied as show birds. Choose a well- 

 shaped male bird for this purpose, one with an intense, rich, 

 black coat, with a fine bright gloss pervading it throughout. 



