More from Frogmore. 

A WHITE BLACKBIRD. 
Early one morning last November I came in 
siglit of my home. That is not an unusual 
thing, but it was unusual for me then for I 
had not seen it since August. I was tired, 
wet, and hungry, and that is even a less un- 
usual occurrence. But among a flock of Boat- 
tailed Grackles that fluttered about the deserted 
yard was one that was pure white. I could 
scarcely believe my eyes. I unlocked the door, 
deposited my luggage, aud after getting the 
big spy glass clear of cobwebs, had a good, 
steady look. There could be no mistake. The 
bird was a “Jackdaw” sure enough, and the 
glass showed only faint traces of cream color 
overlaying the white. It was plainly a female 
from the size and proportions, and the rest of 
j the flock did not seem to notice that they had 
such a rara avis among them. I put on the 
hominy pot and took a pe >ut of the window; 
stirred it and peeped again, looked over my 
shoulder while I ground the coffee and so spilt 
half of it on the floor but I would have given 
pounds of coffee and gone a month without 
that cheering beverage to have had that “white 
blackbird” in my hands. 
But what was the use of all my yearning? 
My gun was away down in Palatka in quaran- 
tine, under suspicion of having the yellow 
fever. By right I should have been with it 
and not it with me. My little collecting pistol 
could not possibly expect to reach such a wary 
bird as a Jackdaw and the only other piece of 
artillery I had within reach was a big Sharpe’s 
rifle that threw a 56-100 ball. For weeks I just 
watched that bird with longing eyes. I learned 
his — her, I should say — whole history from 
the neighbors. It was hatched in an oak tree 
about twenty rods from my door, and was 
whiter “when it was first born.” Be that as 
it may, it did seem to me as I watched it from 
day to day as if the shades were getting darker 
about its neck, and before my gun arrived I 
began to wonder if the beautiful bird wasn’t 
going to slowly fade away into black before 
my disconsolate eyes. 
Well, to cut a long story short, my gun came 
at last and in a few days I was joined by an or- 
nithological friend from Boston. The “white 
blackbird” was still at large, and as I expati- 
ated to him upon its beauties the first night of 
his arrival I thought I detected a slightly in- 
credulous look; also, I was mean enough to tell 
him I had been saving it for him. I hereby 
confess all. It was bullets as big as small 
potatoes that really saved that Jackdaw so long. 
Next day we had a glorious tramp. I showed 
my friend lots of my favorite little nooks and 
corners and gave him a round of Snipe shoot- 
ing, such as he had never even dreamed of 
before; and we got lots of other nice birds, 
too. And it made me think of long bygone 
l days when everything hereabouts was new and 
strange to me, too. 
As we neared home along the edge of the 
Snipe bog an exclamation from my comrade 
caused me to turn and there was the “white 
blackbird” coming directly towards me. As I 
fired down she came and my friend cried, “I 
was sure I should hit him.” 
“ What, did you shoot, too?” said I. 
“Yes, did you shoot?” said he. 
Our guns had made but one report, so simul- 
taneous was our action, and there lay the 
beautiful bird just riddled at close quarters 
with two heavy snipeloads of eights. I suc- 
ceeded, however, in making up a very good 
skin, though it took time and patience. 
When in hand the specimen showed a de- 
cided brownish work over nearly all the 
plumage. The eyes were bright pink and the 
bill and feet also much brighter colored than 
the normal tint of the species. The tail was 
also considerably worn. I am still of the 
opinion that when in first feather this speci- 
men showed only very faint traces of coloring 
over the white. Is it not possible that part 
— possibly all — partial albinos are nearly white 
at first? The viscera of this specimen were 
too badly mutilated to be examined well. I 
searched for intestinal worms which some 
authorities lead us to suspect are in all albinos, 
but foun^ngpg) XIV.Mfty. 1839 p. 71-72 
P 
A' ' 
■isfi' 
*3 
