206 The Thrush. 



structures, is built of small sticks or roots, dry 

 grass, straw, and moss, the whole mass being 

 intermixed with clay. The interior, which is about 

 three . inches in diameter, is lined with a plaster 

 composed by the bird of clay, horse or cow dung, 

 and rotten wood, thoroughly mixed and compacted 

 with its own saliva, and has been well described as 

 being " about the form and size of a large break- 

 fast teacup, being as uniformly rounded and, 

 though not polished, almost as smooth." The 

 whole forms probably the best protection that 

 could be devised against the bitter winds of the 

 early spring, in which this bird commences to 

 breed; but from its very excellence the nest is 

 occasionally the cause of disaster, as, being water- 

 tight, a heavy rain may fill it when some only of 

 the eggs have been laid, and therefore before the 

 hen has begun to sit. 



The nest is generally built in a thick shrub, 

 bush, or hedge ; but the bird is far from parti- 

 cular, adapting itself very much to circumstances, 

 so much so that it will on occasion if no better 

 position can be found, build in a shed or out- 

 building, and even but this is very rare upon 

 the ground. The eggs of the thrush, of which from 

 four to six are generally laid, are probably better 

 known than those of any other British bird, 

 not even excepting the ubiquitous sparrow. The 

 reason of this is doubtless that the nest is large 

 and easily to be found by the most inexperienced 

 birds'-nester, and that the eggs, from their colour 



