4 SONG-THRUSH. 



times be found by the end of March. The well-known nest, with its 

 smooth water-tight lining of rotten wood and dung, is generally 

 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 eggs, 4-6, are of a shining greenish-blue, 

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

 common : average 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 fortniglit ; two and sometimes three 

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

 the first, aiding in rearing the second. It is not a pugnacious bird. 

 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 ; continuing until the moulting season, and 

 being often resumed in autumn : it is frequently uttered on fine 

 nights. For nine months of the year the Song-Thrush 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 un- 

 doubtedly varies its diet, and in the vine-countries it feeds largely 

 on grapes. 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. INIigration takes place at night, when tiocks 

 of this species drop suddenly and almost perpendicularly into wooded 

 places, where numbers are frequently snared for the table ; and an 

 interesting account of the tenderics aux Grivcs in Belgium, is to be 

 found in Gould's ' Birds of Great Britain.' It may be mentioned 

 that although the Song-Thrush is called " Mavis " in Scotland, yet 

 the French Mauvis is the Redwing. As regards the duration of 

 life in the Song-Thrush, ]\Ir. J. H. Gurney, jun., informs me that 

 Mr. Bilham of Cromer, kept one for fifteen years. 



Adult male ; upper parts olive-brown, the wing-coverts tipped 

 with buff; under parts whitish ; 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 the base of the lower mandible ; legs pale 

 brown. Length about 9 in. ; wing 4"65 in. Female : rather smaller 

 and paler on the under parts than the male. Young before first 

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

 more golden-tinted. Albinism in varying degrees is not uncommon 

 in this species. 



