[68 THRUSHES. 



with butterflies and moths. As is usual with almost all birds, 

 the old ones were invariably seen to carry away the dung of 

 the young birds, which might otherwise, by its accumulation, 

 be a great inconvenience. They would, however, be unable 

 to do this, were it not for a curious natural precaution, namely, 

 that the dung of young birds is voided in a thin tenacious 

 bladder or bag, which can be removed without breaking. As 

 the young grew, and required greater supplies, the entrance 

 and retreat of the old ones through the door was so rapid that 

 it could scarcely be seen, but was only known by the sound 

 as they darted over the heads of the men — another proof of the 

 rapidity of flight, of even the slower flying birds, when urged 

 by necessity. 



The above fact of Thrushes feeding on shell-fish has been 

 corroborated by the observations of a naturalist, who, on the 

 shores of the Hebrides, on the western coast of Scotland, found 

 small heaps of shells belonging to two particular species, whelks 

 and periwinkles, always broken, but without the animal, 

 although many appeared quite fresh. On frightening away a 

 Throstle, which he had seen engaged in breaking something 

 which it held in its beak against a stone, he found one of the 

 small heaps of whelks, among which was a fresh one, newly 

 broken, and containing the animal. As the shell of the whelk 

 and periwinkle is much harder than that of the common snail, 

 it was a matter of considerable surprise how so tender an 

 instrument as a beak of the Thrush could accomplish it, but we 

 see in the above case that the bird was instinctively taught to 

 avail itself of a power which accident placed within its reach. 



Here we have a curious instance of a Thrush's confidence 

 in man ; but a more singular instance, considering the near- 

 ness of the parties concerned, fell under our observation a 

 season or two ago — namely, a Blackbird's nest on the ground, 

 in a tuft of grass or rushes close to the seat of a rabbit, the 

 tail, in fact, of the rabbit being in contact with the nest. As 

 the seat as well as the nest were both occupied, these two 

 companions must have sat meditating together for many a 

 day, in perfect peace and good fellowship. We do not know 



