BLACKBIRD, or Maau.k, Turdw nterula of some naturalists, Merula tufgaris of others, a well-known. species of thrush (q.v.), common in all parts of Britain, and throughout Europe generally; found also in the n. of Africa and in the Azores. In Asia, it gives place to 0 closely allied species, f Treeilopfertte. In size, the B. is intermediate between the missel-thrush and the song thrush or mavis. The plumage of the adult mate is wholly of a deep black color, the bill and orbits of the eyes yellow; the female and the young are of a dark rusty brown, with dusky hill and eyelids. The 13. frequents,liedges. thickets, and woods; is shy', restless. and vigilant, keeping much tinder cover of evergreens or shrubs; and when aistarbed, takes wing with 0 vociferous chattering of alarm, seeking refuge in some neighboring thicket. Its food consists of worms, insects. berries, etc. Its fondness for fruit makes it often annoying Jo the gardener; hut probably it would in, be better to protect cherries and pears by nets than to shoot the 13., which is Of'great use as n destroyer of insect larvtr. Like some of the other thrushes, it also devours area numbers of small snails, dexterously breaking the shell against a stone. It is not usually a gregarious bird, although great Clocks sometimes appear upon the British coasts in winter. on their passage from more
northerly to more southerly countries quoted by Yorrell). Otherwise, the 13. is not in Britain a bird of passage. It pairs very early in spring; the male and female are indeed very often seen together winter; it builds its nest early, :HO generally has two broods in the year. The nest is generally placed in some thick bush; it is of ruder workmanship than ffirt of the song-thrush, which. however, it resembles, and is usually formed of strcng stems of (Tress, with a liner lining of dry grass inside, and a massive plastering of clay outside. grass, eggs are four or five in tannher, of 'a pale blue color, generally speckled Acitli brown. Tice voice of the B. is very powerful, and its soug more mellow than that of the thrush, but with "muck less variety. compass, or execution." The 13. is often kept as 0 crig.e-hird, and would is' much more frequently, so, but for the too '9Vat loudness of its song: it is very susceptible of being trained, exhibits considerable powers of imitation, and has even been taught to speak.—The ring ouzel (q.v.), a bird very nearly allied to the 13., is sometimes called the ring B.— The crow blackbirds (q.v.) of America are entirely different.—The SAVANNA B. of the West Indies is also of a different family. See CROTONlIAGA.