STUDIES OF BLACKBIRDS. 
125 
there was only one blackbird in front of the house. The 
destructive blizzard of 1891, and the lack of houses in the 
neighbourhood were, we conclude, responsible for this lack of 
blackbirds. Only two had outlived the season’s distress, and one 
only had possession of the little lawn and bushes in front of 
the house ; this territory including also a valuable bit of damp 
ground where a spring rises, and a small vegetable garden. 
The other was relegated to the back, and when he ventured to 
set claw on the territory of the first, was flown at, pecked, 
beaten with wings, scolded by Mrs. Blackbird, and driven off 
the scenes. 
Having satisfied himself that (new-comers and wingless 
though we were) we were respectable, inasmuch as we were 
innocent of guns, traps, cats, or any evil intentions towards the 
established bird-residents, our friend came boldly to our dining 
room window one cold day, three and a-half years ago (his 
brown mate in sight), and said plainly in bird speech, “ Give 
me some food, and I’ll sing for you in the spring ! ” We 
acceded to his request, and right nobly has he fulfilled his share 
of the contract. Every spring has his voice gained an added 
sweetness and richness. When first we came it was a simple 
refrain that he sang. Once, when serious illness threatened one 
of us, he sang from his tree, “You’ll soon be well again ! ” Over 
and over again this cheery morning greeting was sounded, what 
better tonic could be desired ? With advancing years his 
repertoire has increased, and the peculiarity of this chief singer 
amongst blackbirds is, that when his song is at the sweetest 
he will suddenly break off in a rippling laugh of irrepressible 
bird-joy, surely like an angel’s mirth ! I have never heard this 
to the same extent in any other blackbird, and, alas ! this spring 
only seldom from this one. 
It was in the early days of last December, when one morning 
1 saw my favourite blackbird sitting under a bush, evidently in 
hiding, looking ruffled and dusty, and taking no notice of other 
birds coming about. He retreated further at the sight of me, 
but I went after him, and threw a piece of soaked bread near 
him ; I noticed that he flopped to it with difficulty, but, as is the 
manner of bird or beast when sick or wounded, he shrank from 
notice. Every day, however, he was on the look-out for food, 
and became tamer and tamer, until one day he came limping 
to me, and I found to my grief that he had entirely lost one 
claw, the work of some cruel trap. The loss of a claw to a 
blackbird is more serious than to insectivorous birds, such as 
redstarts or wagtails, or to birds of the finch and sparrow tribe. 
Anyone who has watched a blackbird getting a worm out of 
the grass will understand what is meant, for he jumps on both 
claws to obtain additional strength. So from December till 
June, our blackbird has been a constant visitor. When snow' 
lay thick on the ground, there he sat, a patient “ local black.” 
When the sun shone hot in May he revived in health and 
