NATURAL HISTORY. 
139 
This clafs being too extenfive to be fully 
dcfcribed in fo fmall a volume, we ftiall feleiH: 
only a few of the moft curious, beginning 
with 
The BLACKBIRD. 
T his bird, which is the herald that ulhers 
in the welcome fpring, feems, by its me- 
lody, to awaken the reft of the feathered crea- 
tion from their lethargy, and allure them to 
the pleafures of the approaching feafon. They 
generally breed about the latterend of March, 
or beginning of April, laying four or five 
which are of a blueifli gi-een colour, 
and irregularly marked with dufky fpots. 
Their nefts are conftrufted, in a very inge- 
nious manner, with mofs, twigs, and fibres of 
roots ftrongly cemented ; the inlides being 
plaiftered with clay, and covered with hair, 
and other foft materials. They ufually build 
in hedges, near the ground, and before the 
foliage expands, which, added to the mag- 
nitude of the neft, renders it eafy to be dil- 
covered. 
The plumage of the male, when at full 
age, which is a year, is of a fine deep black, 
while the bill, as well as the edges of the eye- 
lids, are of a beautiful bright yellow ; but 
before they attain this age, the bill is dufky, 
and the pluma'ge of a rufty black. 
They 
