62 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
coverts the same; quills dusky, narrowly edged with 
dull white; secondaries and tertials—inner web 
dusky, outer web shot with reddish brown and 
bluish grey; legs and toes dark brown; claws 
black. 
The eggs are said to be much like those of the 
Blackbird—so much so, indeed, as to be easily 
mistaken for them. 
Sone Turusu, Turdus musicus. ‘This is another 
of our best-known and commonest birds, much 
beloved by those who delight in listening to its 
beautiful song; and, lke most of its tribe, per- 
secuted and hated by gardeners, with how much 
reason we shall see presently. 
The Thrush is an early breeder, usually placing 
its nest in some low bush, or against the side of 
a hedge, and occasionally, but not often, on the 
ground. A very remarkable place is mentioned in 
the ‘ Zoologist,’ namely, the top of a beehive; but 
that nest seems very soon to have been deserted, as 
may easily be imagined. It is a coarse structure of 
hay, grass and roots, lined with clay. 
The food of the Thrush consists principally of 
insects, worms and snails. The number of snails 
devoured by these birds must be very great, to 
judge by the number of snail-shells to be found 
round any stone that the bird may have selected as 
convenient for breaking the shells. I am rather 
inclined to doubt the assertion that the bird con- 
