THIRD WEEK IN JUNE 165 
blackbird and song thrush, is good to eat and 
delicious. Missel thrushes nest very early. 
They pair in February and by April the eggs 
ane laid. ldo net) think *they: have second 
esis.) They buildMiwith! much the same 
materials and in much the same places as 
thrushes and blackbirds but the nest is often 
in quite an exposed position, as seen in 
Plate XX XI, which shows a nest built in the 
thick main fork of an apple tree in an orchard, 
and about 8 feet from the ground. ‘The nest 
is strong and larger than the thrush’s and is 
very deep (about 41nches). The eggs shown in 
the plate were raised purposely, for they are 
invisible unless the nest is looked into from 
above. They are from three to six in number, 
and of a greenish or reddish colour spotted 
reddish brown to purple. Whilst the materials 
of the nest are those of the song thrush, they 
often also use mud and bits of wool and cloth 
too if they can get it for the body of the nest or 
as afoundation. It is lined with moss and fine 
grass. Itisverysubstantial. There is noclay 
round the inside, as used by the songthrush. 
