Birds of Britain 



cipitately into the nearest bush, hotly pursued by our friend, 

 and we have time to notice the peculiar way in which the 

 tail and wings are spread as they disappear. Then we see 

 no more. 



Such is the life of one of our commonest birds as we 

 may witness it any day in early spring. By the end of 

 March, or even earlier, its nest may be found in some 

 sheltered nook. It is not often more than 10 feet from 

 the ground, and is generally in the fork of some tree or bush, 

 or on the beam of some old barn or potting shed ; perhaps 

 it may be found in the middle of a hedgerow, or occasion- 

 ally even on the ground. It is composed of rough grass 

 and bents, and lined with mud pressed round and smoothed 

 so as to form a fairly deep cup. 



The eggs are five in number, and in colour are a 

 beautiful pale blue, with a few small black or purplish- 

 mauve spots towards the larger end, these markings being 

 in some cases entirely lacking. After a fortnight's incuba- 

 tion the young are hatched ; they are then almost naked 

 and only slightly covered with down. 



Incubation is carried on by the hen alone, but both 

 birds assist in the feeding, the diet consisting almost entirely 

 of earth-worms. In about a fortnight to three weeks after 

 the young are hatched they leave the nest to find and earn 

 their own living, whilst their parents busy themselves with 

 the cares of another family, for a pair of birds generally 

 rears three broods in the season. After the rearing of the 

 last brood, which is over by the end of June or early in 

 July, both old and young begin to moult. Consequently, at 

 this time of year they are very quiet and skulking in their 



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