Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/305

use of painters, such as lamp- black, ivory-black, German-black, 8ec. — See Colour-making. BLACK-BIRD, or Tardus me- rula, a species of the thrash. When young, its plumage Is of a rusty black ; but at the age cf one year, being the period of its full growth, its feathers acquire a deep glossy black, the bill a bright yel- low, and the edges of the eye-lids a similar colour. The black-bird loves solitude, and chiefly frequents thickets, and the remotest parts of plantations and woods. In severe winters, however, it is sometimes compell- ed to approach barns and farm- yards, in search of food. It builds earlier than any other bird, and forms its nest in hedges and thickets, of widiered grass and moss, plastered with clay, and covered with hay or straw. Its eggs are commonly four or five in number, of a blueish-green colour, marked with irregular dark spot?. About the latter end of March, it has a young brood, which may be taken at ten or twelve days old. The only way to distinguish the young cock from the hen, is by its colour ; as that of the former is of a deeper black. When young, they are commonly fed with bread and milk, or curds ; but the most proper nourishment is a sheep's heart chopped small, mixed with bread, and moistened with water: they should be fed every two hours, and kept very clean. This bird, especially the male, has a very pleasing note, but too loud for a confined situation ; and it may be taught to whistle tunes to a pipe. It sings during the spring, and the early part of sum- mer ; is silent in the moulting sea- BLA [274 son, and resumes its music in the latter part of autumn. _ BLACK CATTLE, among gra- ziers, denotes all the larger kinds of domestic animals which contribute, to our support or convenience ; such as oxen, cows, horses, &c. As these will be respectively treated of in their proper order, we shall, there- fore, at present, state only the es- sential properties of a perfect, breed of black catlle, designed for the purposes of the dairy, as laid down by Mr. Marshall : 1. The head small and clean, to lessen the quantity of offal. 2. The neck thin and clean, to lighten the fore-end, as well as to lessen the collar, and make it sit close and easy to the animal in work. 3. The carcass large, the chest deep, and the bosom broad, with the ribs standing out full from the spine; to give strength of frame and con- stitution, and to allow sufficient room for th* intestines within the ribs. 4. The shoulders should be light of bone, and rounded off at the lower point, that the collar may be easy, but broad, to give strength ; and well covered with flesh, for the greater ease of draught, as well as to famish a desired point in fatten- ing cattle. 5. The back ought to be wide and level throughout; the quarters long; the thighs thin, and standing narrow at the round bone; the udder large when full, but thin and loose when empty, to hold the greater quantity of milk ; wit h large dug-veins to fill it, and long elastic teats for drawing it off with greater ease. Q. The legs (below the knee and hock) straight, and of a middle length ; their bone, in general, light and clean from fleshiness, but with the joints and sinews of a moderate size, for the purposes of X 2 strength.