THRUSHES. 
475 
in the Oriental region. Nine species 
inhabit Northern Asia, and two others 
are well-known European birds. The 
common blackbird (M. vulgaris ) does not 
usually inhabit the most northern parts 
of Europe, but breeds in most districts 
of this region, migrating from the colder 
regions before the approach of winter. 
It is resident throughout the year in the 
O v 
south of Spain, Algeria, and the Canaries. 
During the summer months the blackbird 
frequents gardens and orchards, nesting in 
shrubs and hedges, sometimes upon the 
ground. The nest is composed of grass- 
stalks and mosses, together with dead leaves; 
and, under pressure of circumstances, can be 
completed in a couple of days, the female alone 
working at the structure. The eggs are bluish 
green in ground - colour, closely freckled with 
light brown. The song lacks the compass and 
variety of the song-thrush, but is nevertheless 
powerful and well sustained. The blackbird 
is specially liable to sport white feathers, 
especially in the case of the male; the 
tendency to such variations having been 
proved to be hereditary. Albinos are some¬ 
times taken in the nest, uniting the 
possession of red irides with bleached 
white plumage. The adult male has 
the plumage uniform black 
throughout; but the female is 
quite unlike her mate, 
being dusky olive-brown 
above, and reddish 
brown on the 
u n d e r- 
parts. 
BLACKBIRD AND SPARROW-HAWK. 
Ring-Ouzel. 
The ring-ouzel (M. torquata), represented in the illustration on 
p. 472, is a mountain-loving species, spending the summer months 
among the heaths and pine-forests of the hills of Central and Northern Europe. 
