BIRDS OF THE GARDEN 31 



Nest. February or March onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In fork of some tree, on lateral branch ; seldom 

 in bushes, except sometimes in shrubberies. 



Materials. Small twigs, roots, dry grass, and moss, 

 firmly compacted with mud, lined with dry grass and 

 rootlets. Rather bulky and often untidy. 



Eggs. Four to five. Pale greenish blue, spotted and 

 blotched with rich ruddy brown and pearl-grey or violet 

 under-markings. Variable. 



SONG THRUSH OR THROSTLE (Turdus musicus}. 



Abundant throughout Great Britain ; rarer towards 

 the North. 



Haunts. Pleasure-grounds, gardens, orchards, woods, 

 and well-cultivated districts. 



Plumage. Upper parts olive-brown ; wing-coverts 

 tipped with buff, forming two bars ; under parts buffish 

 white, well spotted with dark fan- or wedge-shaped 

 markings. Bill dark brown. Legs pale brown. Length 

 9 in. Female rather smaller. Young, upper part 

 mottled with buff. 



Language. Song, loud and inspiriting, though rather 

 tending towards monotony as the same phrase is fre- 

 quently practised over and over again. A persistent 

 singer often from October right through winter (on 

 mild days) to June. Song may be syllabised thus : 

 " How d'ye do ; bo-peep ; bo-peep ; Judy ; Judy ; 

 pretty Dick," &c., according to the listener's fancy and 

 imagination. Call-note, " chick." When alarmed it 

 utters loud chirps and screams. 



Habits. It takes incredibly long hops or straight quick 

 runs. When searching for worms it stands quite still 

 with its head slightly on one side, then suddenly pitches 

 upon some unwary worm and pulls it forcibly from its 

 hole. It smashes snail shells against stones. It is not 

 easily flushed from its nest. 



