THRUSHES. 181 



able, through weakness, to take flight for a more southern 

 climate. In January, 1815, when a heavy fall of snow 

 fell on the 19th, and remained one deep white mantle 

 over the face of the country till the 29th, during which 

 time the thermometer, even at noon, rarely rose above 

 the freezing-point, we recollect finding dead Redwings in 

 greater numbers than any other birds. They are natu- 

 rally remarkably shy, but hunger soon makes them tame, 

 as many a Christmas school-boy knows ; when, if the 

 weather is mild, he in vain endeavours to get a shot at a 

 chattering party, temptingly perched on a naked bough ; 

 whereas, should a severe frost set in, they seem to invite 

 his approach, and allow him to take a steady aim within 

 a few yards. Our common Song-Thrush, however, is a 

 more social bird, and, if unmolested, will build its nest 

 frequently almost within sight of our windows. In- 

 stances have, indeed, occurred of still greater confidence. 

 Thus, a short time ago, in Scotland, some carpenters, 

 working in a shed adjacent to the house, observed a 

 Thrush flying in and out, which induced them to direct 

 their attention to the cause, when, to their surprise, they 

 found a nest commenced amongst the teeth of a harrow, 

 which, with some other farming tools and implements, 

 were placed upon the joists of the shed, just over their 

 heads. The carpenters had arrived soon after six 

 o'clock ; and at seven, when they found the nest, it was 

 in a great state of forwardness, and had evidently been 

 the morning's work of a pair of these indefatigable birds. 

 Their activity throughout the day was incessant, and 

 when the workmen left off in the evening, and came 

 again in the morning, they found the female seated in 

 her half-finished mansion, and, when she flew off for a 

 short time, it was found that she had already laid an 

 egg, though the bottom of the nest was the only part 

 plastered and completed, evidently to meet the pressing 

 necessity of the female bird. When all was finished, 

 the cock took his share in the hatching; and, though he 

 did not sit so long, he was very attentive in feeding her 



