The Thrush. 209 



for by the immense- amount of good they do him 

 the year through by destroying snail s, slugs, and 

 other pests of the garden. As Yarrell remarked, 

 " Prudent gardeners, who surround their fruit with 

 nets, have nothing to fear from the song- thrush, 

 and much for which to be thankful. " In London, 

 at all events, their song would always secure them 

 a welcome were they the most mischievous of birds. 

 Snails are among their greatest delicacies, and it 

 is most amusing to watch the dexterity with which 

 one of these birds will rid the snail of its shell by 

 knocking it against a stone, the same stone being 

 used continually until quite a heap of broken shells 

 is collected round it. 



Thrushes, though many remain with us the year 

 through, are distinctly migratory, moving from 

 north to south and vice versa with great regularity. 

 So far as London is concerned, the larger number 

 of young birds leave at the end of summer never 

 to return. Still, in the parks at least, the number 

 of these birds remains fairly constant, and we hope 

 and believe that it will be many years before they 

 cease to be the home of the song-thrush. 



