THE THRUSH. 



(Sept. 22, 1888.) 



THE song-thrush, or mavis, is one of the best 

 known and best loved of British song-birds, and 

 with reason, as not only is it one of the best of 

 singers, but, with the exception of its cousin, the 

 missel-thrush, or storm-cock, as it is called in some 

 counties, it is the first bird that by its song 

 suggests the coming spring. No sooner has the 

 new year begun than, given a few warm days, 

 the thrush may be heard from its favourite post, 

 on one of the higher branches of a tree, piping 

 in half-hearted manner, it is true, and as if it were 

 almost ashamed of its presumption, but still delight- 

 fully. 



As a London bird the thrush is far from 

 uncommon, being found in all the parks and in 

 most . of the larger gardens and pleasure-grounds 

 of the inner suburbs. In the outer suburbs, where 

 houses are fewer and gardens more plentiful, this 

 bird is almost as common as it is in the country. 

 It is essentially a ' ' homely " bird, fond of human 

 society, as is proved by the fact that it will nest 

 in gardens, often close to much -frequented paths. 

 The nest, which is one of the most compact of bird 



