BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 205 



downwards, and dark brown, with a yellowish tinge 

 at the base of the lower mandible. Irides hazel. 

 Top of the head, nape, and back, light brown ; rump 

 yellowish-brown ; wings dark brown, the coverts 

 being tipped and the quills edged with wood-brown ; 

 the tail is darkish brown, two or three of the out- 

 side feathers being tipped with greyish- white ; 

 cheeks, chin, throat, breast, and under-parts straw 

 colour or yellowish- white, lightest on the belly and 

 vent ; the throat and breast are marked with 

 triangular spots of blackish-brown, and the belly 

 with roundish ones of the same colour ; legs and 

 toes light brown ; claws brownish-black. 



The female is similar to the male. Easily dis- 

 tinguished from Song Thrush by its larger size. 



Situation and Locality. Generally near the top 

 of a tree, where the trunk ends and two or three 

 strong branches spring from it, or on a strong bough 

 close to the trunk, at varying heights from the 

 ground, but seldom or never in the position of the 

 Song Thrush. In woods, plantations, parks, and 

 tree-fringed streams all over the United Kingdom. 

 I have met with its nest much oltener in the north 

 of England than either in the south or east, and 

 have noted its partiality for a lichen-covered ash 

 tree. It is a brave bird, and I have seen it sitting 

 on its eggs when one side of the tree has been 

 plastered white with wind-driven snow. Our illus- 

 tration was procured high up amongst the West- 

 moreland hills. 



Materials. Slender twigs, grass stems, wool, 

 moss, and mud, with an inner lining of fine dry 

 grass. The wool often hangs down from the sides 

 of the nest in long conspicuous rags. 



Eggs. Four to six, according to some authorities. 

 Mr. Dixon, however, says never more than four. 



