I30 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



in ivy : sometimes in a barn or summer-house, and 

 instances have been given of its discovery in the 

 grass of the meadow many feet from the hedge. 



The process of nest-building is laborious, the 

 birds bringing the materials — decayed wood, mud, 

 etc. — often from long distances, placing them in very 

 small quantities at a time in the interior, and round- 

 ing and shaping them by pressure of the breast, 

 turning the while from side to side. The precise 

 advantage of this well-nigh water-tight inner coat- 

 ing as compared with the looser construction of 

 other nests is not apparent. In place of protecting 

 the contents it merely serves to retain the moisture, 

 and Thrushes' nests in exposed situations are often 

 founci in a water-logged condition after heavy rains 

 when those of the Hedge-sparrow and the Blackbird 

 in the near neighbourhood are comparatively dry. 



The range of the Song Thrush extends through- 

 out Europe, and it breeds in very high latitudes. In 

 the northern countries, however, it is a summer 

 visitor only, whilst in the south it appears chiefly in 

 winter. 



Although in Great Britain the Song Thrush is 

 resident throughout the year, seasonal movements 

 take place which bring about great accessions to 

 its numbers in certain localities ; in others it is said 

 that every bird disappears between November and 

 February. 



At the sea-cliffs, on the east coast of Yorkshire, 

 large parties often appear in December, sometimes 

 a dozen or more being counted in an area of less 

 than fifty yards. 



The Song Thrush is one of the earliest birds 



