s 
~ 
os 
§6 THE NATURAL HISTORY. 
- brown, like thofe of the hen, become more black, 
and the fides of their bills more yellow. : 
The old birds moult at the end of the fummer 3 
: fe begin to fing early in the fpring, and fome- 
times again after moulting. 
They do not fly in flocks, but Hiding: a very” 
quick fight, and being naturally folitary and timid, 
they do not fuffer themfelves. to be approached : : 
Yet they are not very fullen when taken, and - 
ave eafily tamed: In confinement they may be 
taught other notes than their Own 5 to elie : 
and even to freak. 
Their note is very fev but too oud t to pleafe, 
except in the open alr. 
They are taken eafily in ivan, Being na- 
turally reftlefs, when confined, they are teazing to. 
- other birds that are. fhut up with them: therefore 
they are improper birds to be kept with others — 
in an aviary. 
A Blackbird is fuppofed to live about feven 
years. There have been inftances of an acci- 
dental variety of this ipecies, whofe feathers were 
mottly white. 

