386 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 



destroy the fruit in gardens like the other species of turdi, but 

 feed on the berries of misletoe, and in the spring on ivy berries, 

 which then begin to ripen. In the summer, when their young 

 become fledged, they leave neighbourhoods, and retire to sheep- 

 walks and wild commons. 



The magpies, when they have young, destroy the broods of 

 missel thrushes, though the dams are fierce birds, and fight boldly 

 in defence of their nests. It is probably to avoid such insults, 

 that this species of thrush, though wild at other times, delights 

 to build near houses, and in frequented walks and gardens. 

 WHITE. 



Of the truth of this I have been an eye-witness, having seen 

 the common thrush feeding on the shell snail. 



In the very early part of this spring (1797) a bird of this 

 species used to sit every morning on the top of some high elms 

 close by my windows, and delight me with its charming song, 

 attracted thither, probably, by some ripe ivy berries that grew 

 near the place. 



I have remarked something like the latter fact, for I remember, 

 many years ago, seeing a pair of these birds fly up repeatedly and 

 attack some larger bird, which I suppose disturbed their nest in 

 my orchard, uttering at the same time violent shrieks. Since 

 writing the above, I have seen more than once a pair of these 

 birds attack some magpies that had disturbed their nest, with 

 great violence and loud shrieks. MARK WICK. 



POULTRY. 



Many creatures are endowed with a ready discernment to see 

 what will turn to their own advantage and emolument : and often 

 discover more sagacity than could be expected. Thus my 

 neighbour's poultry watch for waggons loaded with wheat, and 

 running after them, pick up a number of grains which are shaken 

 from the sheaves by the agitation of the carriages. Thus, when 

 my brother used to take down his gun to shoot sparrows, his cats 

 would run out before him, to be ready to catch up the birds as 

 they fell. 



