. The sportsman's British bird book . - coloured, or nearly so. On account of thisdifference the black thrushes (asthe group may be collectivelydesignated to distinguish it fromthe spotted group) are referred bymany ornithologists to a genus bythemselves, the blackbird thus be-coming Mcnila vulgaris, or Merulaincrula. Such refinement of classi-fication, although it may be con-venient from some points of view,tends, however, to obscure theclose relationship of the blackbirdto the thrush, and if any divisionbe required one of subgeneric rankwould meet the requirements of thecase. If this course
. The sportsman's British bird book . - coloured, or nearly so. On account of thisdifference the black thrushes (asthe group may be collectivelydesignated to distinguish it fromthe spotted group) are referred bymany ornithologists to a genus bythemselves, the blackbird thus be-coming Mcnila vulgaris, or Merulaincrula. Such refinement of classi-fication, although it may be con-venient from some points of view,tends, however, to obscure theclose relationship of the blackbirdto the thrush, and if any divisionbe required one of subgeneric rankwould meet the requirements of thecase. If this course were adoptedthe title of the blackbird wouldbecome Turdus {Merula) merula. While the plumage of the adultcock blackbird is glossy black,forming a bold contrast to theyellow beak and eyelids, that of the hen is dull umber-brown, paler on the throat and breast, which are markedwith dark streaks ; the beak being horn-colour, but inclining to yellowwith age. Young birds are blackish brown above, with Dale rufous. BLACKBIRD MALK 458 PERCHING BIRDS spots and streaks, while the under-parts are hght rufous brown, with adark spot to the tip of each feather ; young cocks being distinguishableby their darker colour above and more distinct spotting below. Evenafter the\- have assumed the adult black dress, the beak remains duskytill the second year, when it acquires the characteristic \-ellow. The geographical range of the blackbird is much more restrictedthan that of either the song-thrush or the mistle-thrush, extendingeastwards apparently only about as far as the valley of the Volga inthe north, and Palestine in the south. It includes, however, practicallythe whole of the rest of Europe as far north as the Arctic Circle,and likewise northern Africa, together with the Azores, Canaries, andMadeira. Blackbirds of other species, it ma\ be added, are foundthroughout the greater part of Asia, as well as in some of the islandsof the South Pacific and in South America, although, strange to say,
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