4 SONG-THRUSH. 



placed in the middle of a thick bush or among ivy, and not un- 

 frequently in a moss-covered bank ; occasionally, but rarely, on 

 level ground. The 4-6 eggs are of a shining greenish-blue, 

 blotched with black or rusty-brown ; spotless varieties being not 

 uncommon : measurements i in. by 78 in. The female sits very 

 closely, and is assisted to some extent by the male in the task of 

 incubation, which lasts about a fortnight ; two and sometimes three 

 broods being produced in the season, and the young, presumably of 

 the fast, aiding in rearing the second. I have known a pair of 

 Thrushes take possession of a Blackbird's nest, and hold it in 

 despite of the owners. The much-admired song, characterized by 

 a distinct repetition of its three or four component notes, may be 

 heard on a warm bright day very early in the year, continues 

 until the moulting season, and is often resumed in autumn ; it is 

 frequently uttered on fine nights. The Song-Thrush also readily 

 adopts the notes of other birds. For nine months of the year it 

 feeds on wild berries, insects, worms, and snails, the shells of the 

 latter being broken against some convenient stone ; but when fruit 

 is ripe, the bird varies its diet, and in the vine-countries it feeds 

 largely on grapes ; while on the sea-coast whelks and other " shell- 

 fish " are eaten, and this may have something to do with the dark 

 colour of the Hebridean birds. Migration takes place at night, 

 when flocks of this species drop suddenly and almost perpendicularly 

 into wooded places, where numbers are frequently snared for the 

 table, especially in Belgium, and also on Heligoland. It may be 

 mentioned that although the Song-Thrush is called " Mavis " in 

 Scotland, yet the French Maiivis is the Redwing. Mr. J- H- 

 Gurney informs me that Mr. Bilham of Cromer, kept a Song-Thrush 

 alive about fifteen years. 



The adult male has the upper parts olive-brown, the wing-coverts 

 with buff tips which form two bars ; under parts whitish, and tawny 

 on the breast and sides, which, with the ear-coverts and cheeks, are 

 streaked and spotted with dark brown ; axillaries and under wing 

 golden-buff; bill horn-brown, yellowish at lower base; legs pale 

 brown. Length 9 in. ; wing 4"6 in. The female is rather smaller 

 and paler on the under parts. The young before the first moult are 

 mottled above with buff; afterwards like the parents, but more 

 golden-tinted. Varieties with more or less white in their plumage 

 are not uncommon. 



