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BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Food. — Earthworms, snails, grubs, fruit, and berries. 



Voice. — A loud song is uttered early in the year, but the notes are 

 not so rich nor so variable as those of the Song Thrush. Call, 

 a twittering " jis-rrr," and a harsh and grating " tir-tic-tur." 



Chief Features. — A very early breeder, having young before most 

 other birds have commenced to nest. A larger and bolder- 

 looking species than the Song Thrush. 



Plumage. — Ash-brown above ; white underneath, with a yellow tinge 

 and many spots of black; white on under wing-coverts; the 

 three lateral tail-feathers tipped with greyish-white. Length. — 

 Eleven inches. 



THRUSH, SONG {Tardus musicus) 

 Local Names. — Dirsh, Grey Bird, Mavis, Mavish, Throstle, Thrusher, 



Whistling Dick. 

 Haunt. — Woods, copses, plantations, hedgerows, gardens, etc. 

 Nesting Period. — March to July. 

 Site of Nest. — Hedges, bushes, trees, shrubs, etc. 

 Materials Used. — Moss, dry grass, and twigs, plastered inside with 



mud and rotten wood. 

 Eggs. — Four or Five. Bright blue, spotted with black or dark brown. 

 Food. — Earthworms, snails, grubs, insects, slugs, and berries. 

 Voice. — Ranks high among British song birds, the notes being rich, 



flute-like, and of remarkable variety. Song has been likened 



to: " go-it, go-it, stick-to-it, stick-to-it, you'11-do-it, you'11-do- 



it." First uttered early in the year, often all through Winter. 

 Chief Features. — A handsome and one of our commonest resident 



birds. Many from the North visit the South during Winter. 



Chiefly regarded for its beautiful song. 

 Plumage. — Olive-brown above; throat white in middle; neck, sides, 



and underneath ochre-yellow, with dark-brown spots; pale 



orange-yellow on under wing-coverts. Male is smaller than 



female. Length. — Nine inches. 



TIT, BEARDED (Panurus biamicus) 

 Local Names. — Bearded Pinnock and Reedling, Least Butcher Bird, 



Pinnock, Reed Pheasant. 

 Haunt. — Marshy places luxuriant with reeds. 

 Nesting Period. — April to July. 

 Site of Nest. — On the ground among herbage. 

 Materials Used. — Dry grass, dead leaves, pieces of reed, with a fine 



grass lining and reed flowers. 

 Eggs. — Five to Seven. White, freckled with brown, streaked and 



speckled with dark brown. 



