THE SONG THRUSH. 7 



beautiful wliining greenish-blue colour, with black spots, are 

 about thirteen days in hatching. Two broods are usually- 

 reared in the season. 



The Mavis appears to have been a favourite cage-bird 

 in Scotland long ago, for we find in the Accounts of the Lord 

 High Treasurer of Scotland, 1473-98, the following entry 

 in the reign of King James IV., under date 1497 : — 



" Item, the xxvij day of Maij, gevin to Liale the falcouare, quhen he 

 brocht the King the Mavis fra Striiieliu, be the Kingis com- 

 ma.nd, ...... ix s." 







