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BIRDS OF THE WAVE AND WOODLAND 



the best known of all our birds. The blackbird is quite as 

 familiar by sight and by song, but many who know what the 

 mavis' eggs and nests are like, would perhaps be puzzled to 



describe the merle's. The 

 home of the hedge-sparrow, 

 again, is well known, and, 

 after a fashion, its appear- 

 ance ; but how many who 

 hear it singing know who 



" /;; days of pinching icant " 



the small musician is ? So, taken all round, the thrush is 

 the bird we are most intimate with. And how welcome it 

 always is on the lawn, with its charming plumage, and its 

 pretty, half-timid way of coming out into public! 'T hope 



