BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 295 



downwards, and dark brow^i, with a yellowish tinge 

 at the base of the lower mandible. Irides hazel. 

 Top of the head, nape, and back, light brown ; rump 

 yellowish-brow^n ; wings dark brown, the coverts 

 being tipped and the quills edged with w^ood-brown ; 

 the tail is darkish brown, two or three of the out- 

 side feathers being tipped with greyish- white ; 

 cheeks, chin, throat, breast, and under-parts straw 

 colour or yellowish-white, hghtest on the belly and 

 vent ; the throat and breast are marked with 

 triangular spots of blackish-brown, and the belly 

 with roundish ones of the same colour ; legs and 

 toes light brown ; claws brownish-black. 



The female is similar to the male. Easily dis- 

 tinguished from Song Thrush by its larger size. 



Situation and Locality. — Generally near the top 

 of a tree, where the trunk ends and tw^o or three 

 strong branches spring from it, or on a strong bough 

 close to the trunk, at varying heights from the 

 ground, but seldom or never in the position of the 

 Song Thrush. In w^oods, plantations, parks, and 

 tree-fringed streams all over the United Kingdom. 

 I have met with its nest much oftener in the north 

 of England than either in the south or east, and 

 have noted its partiality for a lichen-covered ash 

 tree. It is a brave bird, and I have seen it sitting 

 on its eggs wdien one side of the tree has been 

 plastered wdiite w^itli wind-driven snow. Our illus- 

 tration was procured high up amongst the West- 

 moreland hills. 



Materials. — Slender twigs, grass stems, w^ool, 

 moss, and mud, w^ith an inner lining of fine dry 

 grass. The wool often hangs down from the sides 

 of the nest in long conspicuous rags. 



Eggs. — Four to six, according to some authorities. 

 Mr. Dixon, however, says never more than four. 



