I 



THE THRrsiI. 43 



the hill-sicleSj where water must perforce be somewhat 

 scarce. 



The nest_is generally placed in a hedger ow qr^ thicket, 

 or in furze ; but the j^osition is varied, and greatly depends 

 upon circumstances. Sometimes they are very shy in their 

 choice of a nesting-place, and again will at times select a 

 position which demands from them the most fearless confi- 

 dence: some having j^laced their nest in a shrub or bush in 

 a garden, or near a house, where it was possible for passers- 

 by to observe their eggs or young. The nest is formed 

 externally of small t\yigs, fine roots, green naoss, and 

 leaves, with a linin g of m ud. The eg^s are genei'ally five 

 or s^ in number, of a light greenish-blue colour, speckled 

 with black spots, especially at the larger end, where they 

 often form a well-defined ring. 



The young are fed with exemplary assiduity by the 

 parents, chiefly upon insects, until, being able to provide 

 for themselves, they are thrown upon their own resources 

 by the old birds, who start building another nest. 



The usual food of the Thrush is such as to make it 

 especially valuable to the gardener and husbajidman ; for 

 although iu summer it may f eed u pon different kinds of 

 friut, yet its diet chiefly consists of insects, caterpillars, 

 . worms, and snails ; among the latter especially may be in- 

 eluded those that so greatly infest wall-fruit trees (notably 

 apricots and peaclies). The shell of this snail, however, is 

 comparatively hard; and the Thrush, therefore, to obtain 

 the dainty within, dashes the shell against a large 

 stone iu a most adroit manner, until the shell is crushed. 

 Hence, it may be freely admitted that the few fruits 

 purloined in summer have been well earned. In wint er 

 the Thr ush f eeds princrL)al]y upon snails and berries. 



