THE BLACKBIRD. 
709 
tive of the singing Thrushes, is easily described. The 
plumage of the male is of a plain, soft black; the beak 
yellow, as also the eyelid. The female and young birds 
are brownish black, spotted with indistinct spots on 
the fore part of the neck, and the throat paler. They 
measure from ten to ten and a half inches in length, and 
a little oyer a foot across the wings. 
In Europe the Blackbird, or Ouzel as it is sometimes 
called, is nowhere rare, though it can hardly be said to be 
very abundant anywhere. Its favourite haunts are woods 
abounding in thickets and underwood, occasionally inter¬ 
sected by streams and rivulets ; in the winter it is found 
in walks, shrubberies, gardens, and open fences; it keeps 
in the densest portion of the thicket,—which, indeed, 
corresponds with its dress,—excepting while singing, and 
not always then, when it perches on the topmost boughs 
and branches. Its restlessness soon betrays its where¬ 
abouts, for it can scarcely keep silent or motionless for a 
minute together: the everlasting “tac, tac,” or the 
“ zerr,” expressive of alarm, are heard without intermis¬ 
sion ; these notes are given alternately. When flying it 
calls “kix, kix, kix,” and this note is well known to the 
other denizens of the wood, for, inquisitive and observant 
as it is, it is generally the first bird to remark anything 
out of the common, and always estimates true danger 
aright. Its great caution causes it to be the first to take 
wing, while at the same time it is careful to give warning, 
by its cry, to the other inhabitants of the grove; even 
quadrupeds take the hint, and recognizing the “kix, 
kix,” make a timely retreat. Thus it is detested by the 
sportsman, on account of the alarm it occasions. He 
cannot but wonder at the cunning, slyness, care, and 
calculation, of the creature, though he be not disposed to 
