296 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Mr. Seebohm says they very rarely exceed four, 

 and in but very few cases are less. Messrs- 

 Dresser and Sharpe say the number is generally 

 five, sometimes four; Waterton says generally 

 five ; Macgillivray, usually four, or from three to 

 five. I have certainly heard of more than four ; 

 but although I have taken and examined a goodly 

 number of nests, I personally never saw more. 

 They vary in colour, some being greyish-green 

 with underlying markings of grey, and blotches 

 and spots of reddish-brown. Others are reddish- 

 grey in ground colour, with brownish-red markings, 

 which vary in size and distribution. Size about 

 1-3 by -88 in. 



Time. February, March, April, May, June, and 

 July. I have found them in every month but the 

 last. 



Remarks. Eesident, but subject to southern 

 movement in winter. Song loud and defiant, but 

 not considered of much value by bird-fanciers, as 

 it is said to be melancholy and made up of five 

 or six broken strains ; alarm note, a jarring kind 

 of scream. Local and other names : Holm Thrush, 

 Storm Cock, Holm Screech, Mistletoe Thrush, 

 Missel Bird, Bell Throstle, Screech Thrush. Sits 

 pretty closely, and makes a great deal of demonstra- 

 tion when disturbed. 



THRUSH, SONG. Also THRUSH or COMMON THRUSH. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about eight 

 and a half inches. Bill of medium length, nearly 

 straight, and dusky. Irides hazel. Head, nape, 

 back, wings, rump, I ail-coverts, and quills yellowish- 

 brown, spotted with darker brown on the sides 



