BLACKBIRD. 153 



tones it is exceeded by few of the British birds. The 

 Thrush breeds in the spring, having young ones some- 

 times as early as the beginning of April. The nest is 

 usually found in some low bush or thicket, and formed 

 of earth, moss, and straws, having the inside curiously 

 plaistered with clay. The eggs are of a pale bluish-green 

 colour, marked sparingly with black spots. 



The length of the Thrush is about nine inches. The 

 back is of a brown colour, and the neck spotted with 

 white. The inner coverts of the wings are yellow. 



Fieldfare. The Fieldfare is only a partial visitant of 

 this country. It breeds principally in Sweden and Nor- 

 way, and, as soon as the frosts set in throughout those 

 northern regions, great flocks of these birds migrate south- 

 ward. They usually arrive in England during the month 

 of October, and leave us about the end of February or 

 beginning of March. During this season they feed on 

 divers kinds of wild berries, but chiefly on those of the 

 hawthorn, rose, and holly. 



The head and rump are of a cinereous olive colour, 

 spotted with black. The back and greater coverts of the 

 wings are of a deep chesnut. The tail feathers are black, 

 the two middle ones and the interior sides of the outer 

 ones, excepted, the former of which are cinereous, and the 

 latter white. The bill is yellowish, tipped with black ; 

 and the legs are black. 



Blackbird. From the strength and melodiousness of 

 its notes, the Blackbird is a great favourite with those 

 who delight in the wild music of the woods. It com- 

 mences its vocal strains in the very earliest part of spring, 

 and usually continues them until the setting in of winter. 



H 5 



