THRUSHES. 167 



Thrush, however, is a more social bird, and, if unmolested, 

 will build its nest frequently almost within sight of our 

 windows. Instances have, indeed, occurred of still greater 

 confidence. Thus, a short time ago, in Scotland, some car- 

 penters 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 indefatig- 

 able 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 when on the nest. In thirteen days the young birds were 

 out of their shells, which the old ones carried off It is 

 generally supposed that the usual food for nestling Thrushes 

 consists of grubs and worms, quantities of which they may 

 be constantly seen collecting on lawns, particularly after 

 showers have moistened the earth ; and, to those who have 

 opportunities of observing them, nothing can be more interest- 

 ing than the way they, as well as Blackbirds and some other 

 birds, set about it 



In the case of the young Throstles in the shed, the food 

 was not worms, but snails. The old ones brought them in 

 their shells, from which they cleared them by breaking the 

 shell with a smart knock on the tooth of the harrow, catching 

 the snail, without in one instance letting it fall. They now 

 and then varied the feast with a few worms, and occasionally 



