145 BIRD GALLERY. 
No. 32. BLACKBIRD. (TJurdus merula.) 
A resident species, commonly distributed throughout the British 
Islands, and though some of our native birds migrate southward in the 
autumn, their place is taken by numbers of visitors from the Continent. 
Fruit of all kinds, as well as snails, worms, and insects, constitute its 
food and, owing to its partiality for the former, great numbers are 
annually destroyed in gardens and orchards. The nest of moss, etc., 
lined with dry grass, is generally placed in bushes and hedgerows, and 
occasionally on the ground. From four to six eggs are laid very early 
in the year, and are usually greenish-blue spotted with reddish-brown, 
but are sometimes devoid of markings. Several broods are raised in a 
season, the young of the first brood sometimes assisting their parents 
in feeding the young of the second. 
Suffolk, May. 
Presented by T. Harcourt-Powell, Esq. 
No. 33. RING-OUZEL. (Turdus torquatus.) 
This spring visitor arrives in the British Islands in April and 
remains till September or October, when the majority migrate south- 
wards, but, in mild seasons, individuals have been observed in the end 
of December. It inhabits the wilder and more elevated districts, 
feeding on moorland berries, molluscs, worms, and insects, and often 
visiting gardens in the vicinity in search of fruit. The nest, which 
resembles that of the Blackbird, is placed in heather or on a ledge of 
rock, often on the side of a stream. The eggs are four or sometimes 
five in number and resemble those of the Blackbird, but are usually 
more boldly marked. Two broods are often reared in a season. 
Yorkshire, June. 
Presented by Lord Walsingham. 
No. 34. SONG-THRUSH. (‘l'urdus musicus.) 
The “ Throstle” or “ Mavis,’ as it is termed in the north, is a 
common resident throughout the British Islands, and though a consider- 
able number of our native birds migrate in autumn, their place is taken 
by visitors from the Continent. The food consists of fruits, snails, 
worms, and insects. The familiar nest, lined with mud, is generally 
placed in a thick bush or among ivy. The eggs, from four to six 
