SONG THRUSH. 93 



with a tolerably thick coating of clay or moist earth 

 and cow-dung.* Our British Thrushes generally 

 use a proportion of clay or dung to strengthen the 

 frame- work or sides of their nest, but none except 

 the present bird use it so liberally, or make it the 

 substitute for the lining. It is smoothed by the 

 action of the bird turning round in the inside 

 evidently for the purpose, a similar action being 

 employed by many other birds to lay close the 

 down or hair, or other material selected for the 

 lining of the nest The eggs are generally five, 

 very seldom six, in number, well known and 

 admired by almost all for their bright turquois- 

 green and clear black spots, a contrast so beautiful 

 that it is scarcely ever to be resisted by the 

 young bird-nester. The male parent continues 

 his song near his mate during the greater part of 

 hatching time, but flies to her assistance upon any 

 alarm; and both will attack and endeavour to 

 drive off an intruder by their screams. The 

 female at first, and when unsuspicious of danger, 

 allows a close approach to her nest ; and if situ- 

 ated in a public place or garden, where persons 

 are frequently passing, becomes a familiar and 

 apparently unconcerned spectator. In our own 

 garden last spring, (1837,) a somewhat singular 

 circumstance occurred. The nest was placed in 

 a common laurel bush, within easy reach of the 

 ground, and being discovered, was many times 

 daily visited by the younger branches of our 



* Rotten wood seems to be the principal ingredient of 

 the interior plaster of the nest. Selby. 



