THRUSHES. 183 



young birds, which might otherwise, by its accumulation, 

 be a great inconvenience. They would, however, be 

 unable to do this, were it not for a curious natural pre- 

 caution, namely, that the dung of young birds is voided 

 in a thin tenacious bladder or bag, which can be removed 

 without breaking. As the young grew, and required 

 greater supplies, the entrance and retreat of the old ones 

 through the door was so rapid, that it could scarcely be 

 seen, but was only known by the sound, as they darted 

 over the heads of the men ; another proof of the rapidity 

 of flight, of even the slower flying birds, when urged by 

 necessity. 



The above fact of Thrushes feeding on shell-fish, has 

 been corroborated by the observations of a naturalist, 

 who, on the shores of the Hebrides, on the western 

 coast of Scotland, found small heaps of shells belonging 

 to two particular species, whelks and periwinkles, always 

 broken, but without the animal, although many appeared 

 quite fresh. On frightening away a Throstle, which he had 

 seen engaged in breaking something which it held in its 

 beak against a stone, he found one of the small heaps of 

 whelks, among which was a fresh one, newly broken, 

 and containing the animal. As the shell of the whelk 

 and periwinkle, is much harder than that of the com- 

 mon snail it was a matter of considerable surprise how 

 so tender an instrument as the beak of a Thrush could 

 accomplish it, but we see in the above case that the 

 bird was instinctively taught to avail itself of a power 

 which accident placed within its reach. 



Here we have a curious instance of a Thrush's con- 

 fidence in man: but a more singular instance, consider- 

 ing the nearness of the parties concerned, fell under our 

 observation a season or two ago : namely, a Blackbird's 

 nest on the ground, in a tuft of grass or rushes close to 

 the seat of a rabbit, the tail, in fact, of the rabbit, being 

 in contact with the nest. As the seat as well as the 

 nest were both occupied, these two companions must 

 have sat meditating together for many a day, in perfect 



