228 THE SMALLER nniTISR BLRBS. 



Abont the latter end of ]\Iarcli this bird constructs its nest, wbicli 

 is formed externally of moss, fine roots, grass, or twigs, and lias its 

 inner surface coated smoothly with clay or cow-dung and decayed 

 wood. It measures about seven inches in diameter, and from two and 

 a half to four in depth. Frequently it is placed in the centre of a 

 thick hedge or bush, or among the lower branches of a fir or holly 

 tree, but very curious positions are sometimes selected; a specimen 

 was found on the shaft of a thrashing machine, and another on the 

 top of a rail. Open sheds or tool-houses in gardens are not uncom- 

 monly built in. Bishop Stanley relates an instance of this kind: — "A 

 short time ago, in Scotland, some carpenters working in a shed adjacent 

 to a house, observed one of these birds flying in and out, which induced 

 them to direct their attention to the cause, when, to their surprise, 

 they found a nest commenced among the teeth of a harrow, which was 

 placed upon the joists of the shed just over their heads. The car- 

 penters had arrived soon after six o'clock; and at seven, when they 

 found the nest, it was in a state of great forwardness, and had 

 evidently been the morning's work of a pair of these indefatigable 

 birds. Their activity throughout the day was incessant, and when 

 the workmen left off in the evening, and came again in the morning, 

 they found the female seated on her half finished mansion; when she 

 flew off for a short time, it was seen that she had already laid an 

 egg, though the bottom of the nest was the only part plastered and 

 completed. When all was finished the male bird took his share in 

 the hatching. The young were hatched in thirteen days." The eggs, 

 four or five in number, are of a beautiful pale blue colour, with a few 

 distinct black sjiots at the larger end. Two broods are reared in a 

 season. "The feeling of tenderness," says MacgOlivray, "which these 

 birds manifest toward the young of other birds, has been displayed 

 in several very striking instances. I ha%'e now in my possession a 

 male Thrush which, when it was sis weeks old, brought up a brood 

 of half-flcdged Larks. What is still more remarkable, he with the 

 most tender care and anxiety fed a young Cuckoo, which had been 

 taken out of a Titlark's nest." 



The Thrush is justly celebrated for the sweetness and beauty of its 

 song. Very few of our woodland choristers possess the power of 

 pouring forth so charming a variety of clear, rich, and mellow notes. 

 He may be heard as soon as the first golden beams of morning shoot 

 up in the eastern sky, and his voice, less vigorously exerted dui-ing he 

 day, rings again through the woods, clear and loud, but full of tender 

 and delicate cadences, as the sun sinks behind the western hills, and 

 the hush of approaching night steals gently and gradually over the 



