A VENERABLE BLACKBIRD. 
Like the song-thrush, although of incalculable worth for its 
destruction of caterpillars and insects that infest the fruit 
garden and orchard, it makes the agriculturist pay for its 
services by its depredations when the fruits have ripened into 
maturity. An eminent writer says : “ To the earlier fruit in a 
friend's garden near Belfast, these birds were so injurious in 
the summer of 1833, when they were particularly abundant, 
that he had recourse to the common rat-trap for their destruc- 
tion. It was baited with currants, cherries, and early peas, 
and, although exposed to view, forty of these birds soon fell 
victims to it, three thrushes at the same time sharing a similar 
fate. When a cherry and peas were placed on the trap, the 
former was always preferred. All of these birds but one were 
caught by the neck, thus proving that they were secured when 
in the act of pecking at the fruit.” 
It has many social qualities, even while in a wild state, and, 
like the redbreast, the blackbird will often, during frosty 
weather, approach the dwellings of man for a few crumbs of 
bread ; and I remember that, while stopping at a friend’s house 
at Kew during part of a severe winter a few years back, I 
was frequently amused in the early morning by a blackbird 
coming right up the garden of the house, almost directly under 
the window of my apartment, busily searching for any crumbs of 
bread, or other scraps, that might be thrown out. 
The blackbird frequently lives to a good old age ; one be- 
longing to a friend, and who is still a jolly, vigorous -looking 
bird, has been in his possession fourteen years. In an Irish 
newspaper I some time ago found the following paragraph : — 
“ A Venerable Blackbird. — There is at present in the 
possession of Mr. John Spence, of Tullaghgarley, near Bally- 
mena, a blackbird that has arrived at the wonderful age of 
twenty years and nearly eight months. It was taken by him 
from the nest when young, and ever since has enjoyed the very 
best of health. It still continues to sing, and that well. He 
feeds him on potatoes, baked up with a little oatmeal, of which 
he is uncommonly fond. He is, however, beginning to show 
symptoms of old age ; his head is getting grey, and a number 
of white feathers are springing up on his neck and breast.” 
Such of my readers as aspire to the possession of a blackbird 
might, perhaps, do well to imitate the owner of the Tullagh- 
garley veteran with respect to its diet. 
Blackbird Nesting and Trapping. — He is rather an expen- 
sive bird to buy when in full song, because, being a very 
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