198 
BLACKBIRD. 
and despair. The cock bird, on perceiving the danger, shewed 
the greatest distress, and uttered loud screams and outcries, 
sometimes settling on the fence just before the cat, who was 
unable to make a spring, in consequence of the narrowness 
of its footing. After a little time, the cock bird flew at the 
cat, settled on her back, and pecked her head with such 
violence that she fell to the ground, followed by the Blackbird,, 
who succeeded in driving her away. A second time the same 
scene occurred; the Blackbird was again victorious, and the 
cat became so intimidated at the attacks made upon her, that 
she gave over her attempts to get at the young ones. After 
each battle the Blackbird celebrated his victory with a song, 
and for several days afterwards he would hunt the cat about 
the garden whenever she left the house. He adds that he 
also knew an instance of a pair of Blackbirds following a boy 
into a house, and pecking at his head while he was conveying 
one of their young into it. He very properly observes that 
people little think what misery they occasion to birds when 
they deprive them of the brood which they have been cherishing 
with so much tenderness and affection. ‘The cruel parent/ 
says an old author, ‘that would encourage his childe to deprive 
a poor birde of her own broode, right well deserveth to have 
bis own nest robbed, and to become childless.’ 
The following instance of the longevity of the Blackbird in 
confinement is recorded in the Belfast Commercial Chronicle 
of December 25th., 1839:—‘A Venerable Blackbird. —There 
is at present in the possession of Mr. John Spence, of Tul- 
laghgarley, near Ballymena, a Blackbird, that has arrived at 
the wonderful age of twenty years and nearly eight months. 
It was taken by him from the nest when young, and ever 
since has enjoyed the very best of health. It still continues 
to sing, and that well. He is, however, beginning to shew 
symptoms of old age—his head is getting grey, and a 
number of white feathers are springing up on his neck and 
breast.’ 
Mr. Couch, in his interesting ‘Illustrations of Instinct/ 
remarks how when the Blackbird flies off to a closer cover, 
it communicates an alarm to all its race, and from frequent 
repetition this sound becomes a signal of caution, which the 
young cannot fail to associate with the idea of danger, even 
when no object of terror is seen. ‘My attention,’ he says, 
‘was once attracted to the rapidly-repeated utterance of the 
scream of a Blackbird, and the twittering of many other 
