184 Mrs. Florence Verey—On Breeding Blackbirds for Colour


and released them in woodlands some 10 miles away, and a little later

the old cock who had been caged nearly two years was also given his

liberty about 14 miles away. These birds all returned, and I took both

cocks back into the aviary during the bad weather, and then let

them out again. The old cock became such a nuisance trying to find his

way in that I was obliged to put him in a box cage. I then sent him

from here, that is Bournemouth, to Haslemere and released him

there. He came back the same night. The hen is very tame. She is

rearing her second nest at liberty and will allow me to touch her.


To return to my line-breeding : the other 1933 cock from the second

nest has been mated to a light-coloured hen from the same nest. She

hatched two out of four eggs, one, a pale cinnamon, died at four days,

one normal died at about a week. Another pair had a nest of three

eggs set clear and have laid again. The eggs are now due to hatch.


These birds are, of course, kept in separate aviaries, as they fight

desperately.


I make a staple food of Spiller’s Saval No. 1 (2 lb.), 1 lb. dried flies,

\ lb. ants’ eggs. This food seems to suit any softbill. It can be varied

very greatly. Spratt’s C.L.O. food is better than the Saval when

hand-rearing, and for very young birds I usually sieve the flies. I some¬

times use milk and sometimes “ scrambled ” egg. Grated cheese is

much appreciated, but I use it with caution. Fruit, currants, etc.,

are good occasionally. Blackbirds’ nests are made of rough grass, roots,

and mud. The hen takes large lumps of mud in her beak, dips it in

water and then pushes it vigorously into the sides and bottom of the

nest, working it smooth with her breast and feet, lining it afterwards

with finer grass.


When she leaves the nest for a few minutes the cock either sits on

the nest himself or stands guard till she returns. They are most

particular over sanitary arrangements, no trace of any offal being

allowed in the neighbourhood of the nest. The parents eat the excreta

for about 12 days and later carry it away.


These inbred birds are very delicate and so far none have been

completely reared. At present the old hen has two, about one week

old, one of them being practically white. If I rear one I shall be

extremely fortunate.



