OF BIRDS. 
55 
this othenvife would probably be the cafe, for 
they begin to lay very early in the fpring, and 
lay more than once. Their neft is a little like 
the Thrulh’s , but lined within; the outfide is 
compofed of mofs, and mud, and lined with bents 
of graft, and fibres of roots; and they arc fp in- 
dultrious, that it is finiftieu in eight days. They 
generally build low, in bullies, or in trees that 
are not very high, and there have been inftanccs 
of their making their nefts in the hollow of a 
tree. Mr. De Salerne fays, that a Blackbird hav¬ 
ing built its neft in a hedge, and very near the 
bottom, finding that two hatches of young had 
been defined by cats, the third time placed it in an 
apple tree, eight feet above the ground. The fe¬ 
male lays five or fix bluilh eggs ; the male does 
not affift her in fitting,but provides her with food. 
A gentleman fays, that he had fecn a Blackbird 
that was hatched early in the year, undertake the 
care of fome little ones that were lately hatched. 
Although Blackbirds lay more than once in a 
fealon ; their firft laying frequently mifearries, from 
the inclemency of the weather, in the early part 
of the year. 
I he young birds are fuppofed to moult more 
than once the firft year, each time the feathers of 
the cock bird which at firft are of a duficy reddilh 
^ 4 brown. 
