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allen’s naturalist’s librarv. 
area, however, it is quite possible for the Blackbird to be 
somewhat of a nuisance, for it is extremely quarrelsome, not 
only fighting with others of its own species, but driving off 
other birds which seek to feed or to nest near its own particular 
domain. In most places, however, where the birds are cared 
for, they live in peace with the Thrushes and other neighbours 
remembering perhaps that they have shared the same friendly 
hospitality during the hard days of winter, and been sustained 
by the same friendly hands. Thus there is no prettier sight 
than to see the Blackbirds in summer descending gently and 
with a sweeping flight on to a lawn, and as thev alight, raising 
their tail gracefully, before proceeding to search for worms 
I his action of the tail is characteristic of the Blackbird, and is 
n t seen in the Thrushes under similar circumstances. 
itest. 1 his is found in all kinds of situations, sometimes 
well concealed and hidden in the recesses of an evergreen or 
yew-tree, at others built in such exposed situations as to ensure 
discovery. The outside of the nest is often ragged, and the out- 
iying grasses and twigs often lead to its detection. It is a firm 
and compactly-built structure, and is placed in the thick stems 
of an ivy trunk or against the trunk of a big tree, often in the 
middle of a park or on the edge of a plantation, and at a good 
distance from the ground, while at other times it is to be found 
near the dense bottom of a hedge-row, and has even been found 
under the eaves of a shed, or amongst the roots of a large tree 
or under a bank, in just such a situation as a Wren would choose’ 
according to Mr. Seebohm. The latter gentleman observes: 
“The nest passes through three stages before it is completed 
It is composed first of coarse grasses, amongst which a few 
twigs are sometimes woven, a little moss, and dry leaves. This 
somewhat loosely-built structure is lined with mud or clay, 
when it is a difficult matter to distinguish it from an unfinished 
nest of the Song- Thrush. This mud-formed cavity is finally 
lined very thickly with finer grasses, admirably arranged, and 
forming a smooth bed for the eggs.” Mr. Robert Read tells 
us that he once found a Blackbird’s nest at Blackhoath very 
early in the spring, in which the bird had laid a single egg. A 
spell of frost and snow supervened, and no more eggs" were 
deposited for a fortnight, when mild weather once more set in, 
