34 Bird-Song: and New Zealand Song Birdi 
their choice of singing-coign the two birds display their different 
natures;—the thrush enjoys the wide prospect afforded by the 
lofty tree, the open gallery; the blackbird enjoys the intimate 
seclusion afforded by the densely-leafed bush or shrubbe 
This is speaking generally; I have seen a blackbird more than 
once singing from a lofty tree, and have passed close by a 
thrush singing in a secluded glade. 
Because of his retiring nature, I have rarely seen a blackbird 
whilst actually singing, so am unable to record any of his prac¬ 
tice-notes; and the thrush and the blackbird have so many 
notes in common, that I must confess I am unable to say for 
certain, from the song alone whether the singer is thrush or 
blackbird* The same is true of tui and bell-bird, and all songs 
recorded are such as have been sung by birds actually seen. 
Tlieie is a study awaiting to be taken up in the songs of these 
two birds alone. One blackbird strain may be given (1). 
This, vocalized as above, was sung at the speed of three to four 
quavers a second. 
One day two young birds, just out of the nest, ran along the 
pathway before me with perfect nonchalance. After a short 
time one ran under a hedge, the other alit and sat on a low 
blanch. The parent bird suddenly appeared, and sitting near 
by at once opened a vigorous alarm (2). 
Her bill was open as she uttered the vehement notes, four 
qua\ ers a second. After the alarm she flew off and settled on the 
& iound a few feet away watching, but the young ones paid no 
attention whatever to her warning; they had evidently not yet 
earned their lesson. Other cries have been noted, but less 
th'if March, 1926, by an immigrant of a year or two’s residence here 
thev W prp iaC b 0tl f. e< ^. °f the songs of the thrush and blackbird :—in England 
qui e istinct, but in New Zealand they seemed much the same. 
