192 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



interwove into the fabric of their nest a large piece of newspaper, 

 as big as half-a-sheet of writing paper, which first attracted ray- 

 attention. This I carefully removed, in order to render the nest less 

 conspicuous. The pugnacity of the Missel Thrush is often shown 

 by a pair of these birds taking possession of some favorite bush, and 

 defending it against all comers. There is a favorite yew tree just 

 opposite my study window, which became the scene of a most ani- 

 mated contest of this description. It was a hard winter's morning, 

 and the tree being covered with berries, it attracted the birds from 

 some distance all round. A pair of these birds, however, took legal 

 possession, and for the whole morning resolutely defended the tree 

 against a continual succession of opponents. I counted three or 

 four other Missel Thrushes, as well as Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, 

 which were continually endeavouring to effect a lodgment, and from 

 9 to 11, a.m., there was a continual whir of wings and an incessant 

 chattering kept up owing to the warfare which was carried on. One 

 thing 1 saw for certain, that the two defenders got no berries for 

 their pains, as they literally had no time to eat, much less to digest 

 what they had eaten ; and when I left the study the battle was still 

 going on. It is a curious fact that some years back these birds are 

 said to have been comparatively rare, while at the present day they 

 may be said to be ubiquitous. 



Tardus Musicus. " Song Thrush." The king of our singing 

 birds, and one of our earliest breeders. I have noticed this bird in 

 full song on the ground, on the top of a house, on a hay-cock. It 

 is a most determined destroyer of snails, which form a great part 

 of its diet during the winter, and in which habit it differs I believe 

 from all the other thrushes. You may often see some favorite stone 

 used by these birds to crack their shells on, surrounded by the debris 

 of their repast. This custom alone, not to mention the beauty of 

 its song, should powerfully plead for its protection. In Hart's shop, 

 at Bournemouth, I noticed a most peculiar variety of the Song 

 Thrush. The bird was a dark brownish-black, and at first sight you 

 would have taken it for a Blackbird. This bird had been kept in 

 confinement for some years when it suddenly moulted this peculiar 

 colour all at once, and was then preserved. 



