. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Birds; Natural history; Oiseaux; Sciences naturelles. BLACKBIRD.—7ur(;H9 iiKraVi. upper tail-coverts. The midor parts arc covered on the neck and chest witli spots of a darker hue. Tlie total length of the adult bird is about seven inches. Among? the best known and best loved of our British songsters, the Blackbird is one of the most conspicuous. This well-known bird derives its popiilar name from the uniformly black hue of its plumage, which is only relieved by tlu; bright orange-coloured bill of the male bird. The song of this cr
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Birds; Natural history; Oiseaux; Sciences naturelles. BLACKBIRD.—7ur(;H9 iiKraVi. upper tail-coverts. The midor parts arc covered on the neck and chest witli spots of a darker hue. Tlie total length of the adult bird is about seven inches. Among? the best known and best loved of our British songsters, the Blackbird is one of the most conspicuous. This well-known bird derives its popiilar name from the uniformly black hue of its plumage, which is only relieved by tlu; bright orange-coloured bill of the male bird. The song of this creature is remarkable for its full'mellowness of note, and is ever a welcome sound to the lover of nature, and her vocal and visual harmonies. Often the poor bird suffers for its voice ; and being kcj)t within the bars of a cage, is forced to sing its wild native notes "in a strange ; In caiitivity it is sometimes subjected to triuuing, and lias been taught to whistle tunes with great sjnrit and precision. Generally the hird sings in the daytime, but there arc times when it t-neroaches upon the acknow- ledged province of the nightingale, and makes the night echoes ring with its rich ringing tones. It is rather curious that even in its native state the Blackbird is something of a mimic, and will imitate the voices of otlu-r hinls with remarkable skill, even teaching itself to crow like a cock and to cackle like a hen. The JJlackljird feeds usually on insects, but it also possesses a great love of fruit, and in the autumn ravages the gardens and lU'chards in a most destructive manner, picking out all the best and ripest fruit, and wisely leaving the still immatured produce to ripen on the branches. I'erhaps it may be partly carnivorous, as one of these birds was seen to attack anil kill a shrew mouse. As it is so common a bird, and constantly haunts the hedgerows, it is greatly persecuted by juvenile gunners, whom it contrives to dra\v away from its nest by Hittin
Size: 2031px × 1230px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectnaturalhistory
